SINGKIR WHERE?
You'd probably be thinking "where in the world is that?" as you read my profile on the right. Even if you're from Malaysia, maybe you've never even heard of the place until now. Can't blame you though as nothing much ever happens around this sleepy village. Not until three weeks ago when we made it to primetime TV!
A company, most probably with connections in high places, has been given the permission to carry out quarrying activities on the hills bordering our village. I always thought the hills have been gazetted as national heritage -- no logging, no rock blasting.
It has always been a sore point with the villagers as our once crystal clear river has been flowing muddy water ever since they cut down the trees. The logging and land cutting activities have caused a lot of damage to adjoining properties. Children can't swim in the river anymore and smaller fishes were found floating belly up down the river. So, some concerned soul called the TV3 crew to show them what's hapenning to the river that runs through the village.
As fate would have it, it rained heavily when the TV crew arrived and continued on and on the whole day. The river swelled before the very eyes of the TV crew and subsequently overflowed its banks with thick muddy water. The flood water was so thick that even those tall dual-purpose motorcycles stalled their engines in it. Many houses along the river as well as the village school were affected. After the flood subsided, it left a crust of mud two inches thick in the affected houses.
The TV crew got their news material, more than they ever hoped for and the village found its fame, at last.
Tongues wagged and fingers were pointed in all directions in higher places after it was aired. The company was given a "stern warning" by the authorities and were asked to strictly comply with all the terms of approval. So, it dug up a deeper drain and a small pool to trap the mud, something they should have done in the very beginning.
And of course, thay also promised to compensate the villagers for the damage incurred. Yeah, a lot of good that will do...
A company, most probably with connections in high places, has been given the permission to carry out quarrying activities on the hills bordering our village. I always thought the hills have been gazetted as national heritage -- no logging, no rock blasting.
It has always been a sore point with the villagers as our once crystal clear river has been flowing muddy water ever since they cut down the trees. The logging and land cutting activities have caused a lot of damage to adjoining properties. Children can't swim in the river anymore and smaller fishes were found floating belly up down the river. So, some concerned soul called the TV3 crew to show them what's hapenning to the river that runs through the village.
As fate would have it, it rained heavily when the TV crew arrived and continued on and on the whole day. The river swelled before the very eyes of the TV crew and subsequently overflowed its banks with thick muddy water. The flood water was so thick that even those tall dual-purpose motorcycles stalled their engines in it. Many houses along the river as well as the village school were affected. After the flood subsided, it left a crust of mud two inches thick in the affected houses.
The TV crew got their news material, more than they ever hoped for and the village found its fame, at last.
Tongues wagged and fingers were pointed in all directions in higher places after it was aired. The company was given a "stern warning" by the authorities and were asked to strictly comply with all the terms of approval. So, it dug up a deeper drain and a small pool to trap the mud, something they should have done in the very beginning.
And of course, thay also promised to compensate the villagers for the damage incurred. Yeah, a lot of good that will do...
posted by Kri at
1:44 AM
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