President SM Mohamed Idris said SAM was shocked to find that the hill had been cleared and was surprised how this indiscriminate act could be allowed and the reason for its clearing.

A similar clearing is also happening opposite the Penang government rest house in Batu Ferringhi.

SAM’s checks found that an excavator was felling trees and carrying out earthworks in the coastal area.

“More and more hills and forests in Penang are being cleared.

“We urge the Penang government and the Penang Island City Council to investigate the hill clearing near Titi Kerawang immediately,” said Idris.

On the felling of trees, he called on the Forestry Department and Land Office to investigate both areas to check the status of the land, purpose of activities being carried out and whether it was approved by the authorities.

He said SAM officers found that the felling of trees in the area was recent and there were no signboards on the nature of the project being carried out.

He said SAM was concerned by these activities because of the threat to the environment, impact on the watershed, risk of erosion, flooding downstream and marine pollution affecting the coastal areas of Batu Ferringhi.

He said SAM hoped the Penang government and city council would stop these activities if found to be illegal.

He urged the authorities to step up monitoring across the state to detect forest clearing and illegal development from the outset.

He wants findings of the investigations to be made public so that the people don’t have to wonder what was going on.

“These questions were posed to us during our survey in the affected area.

“It is fruitless for the state and local governments to plant thousands of trees across Penang only for thousands more to be felled indiscriminately,” said Idris in a statement today.