Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) said while the cause of the landslide has yet to be determined, hill clearing for all kinds of projects, including agriculture and construction works, could be responsible for the incident especially during heavy rain.

SAM pointed out that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, had called for a review of all projects on hilly areas and highlands in Cameron Highlands following heavy rain, fearing the likelihood of disasters happening.

“Clearly, it appears that this directive from the country’s highest authority does not seem to have been heeded,” SAM president Meenakshi Raman said in a statement.

Meenakshi called for the government to set up a task force to conduct the review and publicise the findings.

She said the state and local authorities must be hauled up again for allowing over-development in what is a “highly environmentally sensitive area”, especially when climate change impacts are more apparent now, with unprecedented rainfall intensities.

Five Myanmar nationals were trapped in a house in the landslide at Blue Valley. One was confirmed dead and a search has been mounted for the others.