KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — The government needs to immediately freeze all developments and planning permits in Cameron Highlands to facilitate a proper study on the tourist destination’s warming climate, Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) president Damien Thanam Divean was reported as saying.

He expressed support for Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands’ (Reach) call to temporarily stop developments in Cameron Highlands, saying that the proposed study must include the voices of the public, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and business communities, according to a report by the New Straits Times.

"A previously adopted method of data gathering may no longer be relevant as global warming, climate change, extreme weather, pollution related to human activity, destruction of natural forest areas and hydroelectric dams may have created irreversible damage to the highland ecosystem,” he was quoted as saying.

He emphasised the "health” of the popular tourist destination over activities related to tourism, farming and plantation-based economies, saying that such measures should have been taken a long time ago.

"No new sites should be awarded permits for development. A ‘rehabilitation surcharge’ could be imposed on all (accommodation) bookings in the highland in addition to the daily RM3 charge for each tourist in Pahang.

"The state should aggressively rehabilitate the soil and rivers that have been polluted for decades by chemical fertilisers and insecticides by using the funds raised from the surcharge collection,” he said.

Besides environmentally safe farming methods, he suggested that locals help improve the garbage management system by employing waste separation at home.

Reach president Dilip Martin reportedly said that his NGO was not opposed to development as long as sustainability was prioritised along with minimal land clearance.

"We can foresee extensive damage on nature if the proposed theme park in Habu is given the green light, not to mention the volume of visitors and vehicles going up once the park opens.

"In addressing the increasing traffic in Cameron Highlands, the authorities should introduce a park-at-hotel policy and provide feeder buses that will take visitors to tourist spots. It will also help vehicle emissions,” he said.