Jaspal Singh

Ipoh: Thousands of residents living in the vicinity of rock and limestone quarries in Perak can begin heaving sighs of relief. The state government has announced that it will be relocating quarry operations to alternative sites, far away from densely populated areas. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the state government would be implementing zoning system to rid residential areas of air and noise pollution emanating from the quarries. He says steps was being taken as the state government wanted to tackle the woes of residents living near quarry sites, who, for years have been complaining about health and environmental problems related to quarry activities.—CONTINUED

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Dear Sir,

The Malaysian Karst Society (MKS) lauds the Perak State Government’s decision to relocate quarry operations to alternative sites (NST 3 July 2009). However, MKS would like to urge the Perak State Government to go one step further. The State Government should consider using its abundant underground limestone resource instead of quarrying other above ground limestone hills. That would be like cleaning up one mess only to mess up another area. —CONTINUED

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Some of the Earth’s most spectacular limestone formations can be found in Malaysia. For example, the world’s largest natural underground chamber, Gua Nasib Bagus, can be found in the limestone karsts of Gunung Mulu National Park, Sarawak.
Recognized as ‘arks of biodiversity’, karsts are home to many unique species of birds, bats, insects, snails, fish, mammals and plants. Animals inhabiting karsts provide important ecosystem services such as pollination and pest control in surrounding areas.
Unfortunately, many karsts in Malaysia are being quarried for cement and marble, with logging activities and land clearance around it also degrading these biodiversity havens.
A team of biologists have come up with a scientific basis to identify limestone karsts for protection.
Using data from 43 karsts across Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah, the study discovered that larger karsts, particularly those more than 1 km sq., deserve greater protection as they contain higher numbers of endemic land snails, and potentially other endemic plants and animals.

“Larger areas tend to have greater habitat diversity, which enables them so support a higher number of unique species.” says Reuben Clements, lead author of the study published in the November issue of the journal Biological Conservation.
“The protection of karsts has been mainly ad hoc and they are usually spared from quarrying by virtue of being situated within state and national parks, or if they possess some form of aesthetic or cultural value.” says Clements.
In addition, groups of karsts that have been isolated from other groups by geographical barriers such as mountains and rivers potentially contain significantly distinct species compositions.

“Taking Peninsular Malaysia for example, our results now suggest that we should aim to set aside larger karsts on both sides of the Titiwangsa mountain range for protection if we want to maximize the conservation of endemic species” added Clements. “Protecting large karsts in Pahang, Kelantan and Terengganu is not enough. We have to ensure that the larger karsts in Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Perlis are protected as well”.
Concerns were recently highlighted regarding the potential quarrying of Gunung Jebak Puyuh, a pristine karst located in Pahang.
“This study shows that our concerns over the quarrying of Jebak Puyuh are warranted because its area is more than 1 km sq.” says Hymeir Kamarudin, President of the Malaysian Karst Society.
Indeed, the study found seven species of snails restricted to that area, compared to just one species on a much smaller karst measuring 0.06 km sq. located further south.
“It is not surprising that a large number of unique species of plants and animals have been and continue to be recorded from Jebak Puyuh.” added Hymeir.
Pressure to mine karsts for limestone is likely to increase. A previous study by Clements showed that Southeast Asia has the greatest annual average increases in limestone quarrying – 5.7 percent a year.
“With our findings, we hope that state governments would reconsider issuing mining concessions for larger karsts as they tend to be more biologically important.” says Clements.
“Mining companies should also look towards extracting abundant limestone deposits below ground instead of leveling Earth’s precious biodiversity arks”.

For further information, please contact Reuben Clements at: rclements@wwf.org.my or call +60132183992.

Previous press on studies on limestone karst conservation and biodiversity authored by Reuben Clements:
news.nationalgeographic.com/news
www.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/science
www.nature.com/nature/journal

The STAR article on Gunung Senyum

The STAR interview with Pahang MB

Here is an excerpt of the letter. Click HERE to download the full letter.

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Re: Gunung Senyum and Bukit Jebak Puyuh, Jengka, Pahang

It has been brought to our attention that the Pahang State Government is considering your company’s application to extract limestone from Gunung Senyum and Bukit Jebak Puyuh in Jengka, Pahang.

We also realize that the YTL Group of Companies considers itself to be an environmentally responsible corporate citizen. We note that YTL has supported several environmental projects currently and in the past and is a large contributor to a major Malaysian conservation organization. In addition, we understand that YTL prides itself in taking measures to minimize its corporate foot print on the environment too. All these are actions that we in the conservation field fully applaud. It is in this vein that we would like to ask you to reconsider your plans in relation to these two unique hills.

Not many people are aware of the fact that both hills are of high conservation value as they both harbor important archaeological artifacts and a substantial number of locally endemic and rare flora and fauna. Gunung Senyum is a popular recreational attraction as it has several easily accessible caves. In fact, Jabatan Perhutanan Negeri Pahang is currently managing the hill as a recreational site and has been for many years now. Bukit Jebak Puyuh on the other hand being a satellite of the larger G. Senyum is less visited but is thought to be as diverse, if not more diverse than G. Senyum as it is more pristine. (continued)

Here is an excerpt of the report. Click HERE to download the full article.

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Gunung Jebak Puyuh – The Pearl Amongst a Sea of Palm Oil

By Hymeir K.

I spent three days at the Gunung Senyum Recreational Forest, in Jengka recently. This is just about the geographical center of Peninsular Malaysia. Jutting dramatically out of the rolling plains of Central Pahang, Gunung Senyum and Gunung Jebak Puyuh are hard to miss. The jewel of this place is without doubt the caves of Gunung Senyum and Gunung Jebak Puyuh.

They are spectacular hills with equally spectacular caves with high ceilings and large chambers. Some with skylights allowing the sun’s rays into the normally dark recesses of the caves.

The hidden jewel however has to be Gunung Senyum’s lesser known neighbor, Gunung Jebak Puyuh. It’s a hidden gem as it takes a little more effort to visit and the little more effort is more than rewarded by the equally spectacular caves even if they are not as large as those of Senyum. The caves of Jebak Puyuh are less visited thus are more pristine. They are smaller but packed with fine exquisite formations and mysterious hidden gardens. (continued)

Here are some of the various News articles regarding the threat of destruction of caves which have historical, environmental and aesthetic value, located in Gunung Lanno.

Sin Chew Newspaper dtd: 11-05-06	Nanyang Newspaper dtd 11-05-06	The Star dtd: 25-05-06
The Star dtd:25-05-06	The Star dtd: 07-06-06	The Star dtd: 05-06-06
The Star dtd: 12-05-06	The Star dtd: 26-05-06	9

MKS regularly organises trekking, climbing, caving and other karst related activities to generate interest and awareness in karst. Here you will find the photos and updates on our past and future trips. If you have an interest in exploring the dark recesses of caves, or simply feel that beautiful Malaysian karst outcrops need to be conserved.

• Vol. 6, Issue 3 2009
• Vol. 6, Issue 2 2009
• Vol. 6, Issue 1 2009
• Vol. 5, Issue 2 2008
• Vol. 5, Issue 1 2008
• Vol. 4, Issue 4 2007
• Vol. 4, Issue 3 2007
• Vol. 4, Issue 2 2007
• Vol. 4, Issue 1 2007

Registration is crucial for the safety of the participants as sufficient equipment needs to be prepared for each trip. We also need to know the number of members coming, as the trip may be cancelled if there are too few participants. Registration can be done thru email or by calling the person in charge.

Survey of the Caves of Baling,  Kedah

April 10th, 2010

Bukit Baling near the town of the same name in Kedah is a rather large crescent shaped hill. Here are several caves at this hill and a trip is being organized to survey some of these caves on 10 April 2010. Please note that this is not a normal cave tour but a working trip. We may be spending a long time at one cave and we suggest people not involved in the survey help look for other caves after finishing exploring the first cave. its also a good exposure to seeing how a cave is surveyed or mapped. If you are interested to join us for this day trip, please contact:

WH Cheah (012-5168239) or CM Chan (012-5028478) for confirmation.

Caving exploration at Gua Kandu , Gopeng.

Date      : 8th May 2010 (Saturday)
Time      : 9.30am
Venue  : Round about, Gopeng  town.

Description : This  caving adventure and educational tour takes about  2 hours to explore.
There are many beautiful  formations inside this interesting cave.
Once the communists used to hide in this cave during the war years and emergency period.
You will learn about the types of geological formations, flora and fauna of the limestone caves.

Fees :
Members            – Free
Non-members  – RM30/pax inclusive of 1 year membership to MKS.
For members who have not renewed this year ( January 2010) , pls renew at  RM30/pax . You can do so on that day itself.
What to bring :
1.Torchlight / headlamp. Good to be handsfree in the cave.
2.Wear proper trek shoes (no slippers or sandals.)
3.1 small bottle of water during caving.
4.Clothes /slippers/sandals for changing.
5.Towel for bathing.
Choices : Those interested , pls  call to confirm with choices:
1.Caving only
2.Caving + lunch at a resort nearby (there after can swim in the river nearby or at a waterfall nearby.)
a.Caving    (members- free, RM30/pax for non members.)
b.Lunch : RM15/pax.
c.Riverside -free
Contacts: – pls confirm by 1st May 2010. Places are limited , first come first serve.
1.  Bernard Lee -  017 5659313
2.  CM Chan      – 012 5028478
3.  David Foon  – 012-5107555