Who Will Clear The Wood Debris In Telemong

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While political party members, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and volunteers have been pouring in to help with the clean-up activities, it still remains unclear who will remove the piles of wood debris and log slides swept into the villages during the floods. - NSTP/AIZUDDIN SAADBENTONG: Three weeks have passed since the devastating floods which also saw water surge incidents that resulted in large-scale destruction and loss of innocent lives in Telemong, near Karak, here.
As life seems to be returning to normal at a snail's pace, villagers occupying flood-ravaged settlements along Jalan Karak-Telemong are still busy sorting the mess left behind in the catastrophic floods.

While political party members, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and volunteers have been pouring in to help with the clean-up activities, it still remains unclear who will remove the piles of wood debris and log slides swept into the villages during the floods.
Villagers said the debris and log slides have not only turned into an "eyesore" but brought the quaint town fame for the wrong reasons as people, especially those from outstation, would pose for photographs with the wood debris in the background.
Kampung Sungai Perdak village head Thu Yin Li said NGOs and volunteers have been helping to clear the wood debris from the "timber tsunami" scattered in front of houses and around the settlement.
"Several NGOs have been assisting us and cleaning work is yet to be completed. I am not sure what is going to happen to the wood debris gathered along the river banks in the village. I hope the authorities will clear the mess soon," she said when met.
Meanwhile lorry driver K. Ramayah, 61, said tree trunks, uprooted durian, oil palm and coconut trees along with huge branches were scattered around the flood hit settlements and some parts of the road shoulder.
"After the floods, the debris covered most sections of the road before it was cut and cleared. The rivers at Sungai Perdak and Sungai Kerau (Telemong) have become narrow after the floods but the logs which once blocked the water channel have been cleared.
"Tree trunks and huge pieces of wood had slammed against several house walls and some even entered the houses. I am not sure who is going to remove the wood debris.. most of the houses have been cleaned but the surrounding is filled with pieces of wood of various sizes," he said, adding that motorists would often stop in Telemong to capture images of the wood debris and damages resulting from the floods.
Meanwhile, Kampung Sri Telemong villager Salmahwati Mohamed, 38, said her house porch was covered with debris including pieces of logs after the Dec 18 floods before some volunteers from Kuala Lumpur helped to remove them.
"The debris found in the village was swept by the floods from elsewhere. The cleaning process might take weeks or even months to complete… the weather is quite hot and now the roads are full of yellow earth, and dust," she said, adding that water and electricity supply has yet to be fully restored in Telemong.
The Forestry Department had clarified that a huge water surge phenomenon along Sungai Kerau had triggered the wood debris and log slides to be swept towards the Seri Telemong bridge on Dec 18.
16 people who were waiting at the bridge on the same night were swept away by the water column before 10 were rescued while five others were found dead. One person is still missing.
Meanwhile, the Pahang Forestry Department had put up a notice at both Sungai Perdak and Sungai Kerau informing that the department had taken possession of several timber found in both areas.
The notice issued by the District Forest Officer read that those who wanted to make a claim of the timber can do so by paying the State Authority the cost which was borne by the Forestry Department for the timber including the royalty.
Several excavators were spotted clearing the wood debris along Sungai Kerau but it remains unclear if they were contractors appointed by the department or a third party.
The New Straits Times has contacted the Forestry department for comments and is awaiting a response. - NST

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