Kelantan urged to limit agriculture licence to prevent major floods

MACHANG: The Kelantan Umno has called on the state government to limit issuance of agriculture licences in Gua Musang to avoid another major flood from recurring.
Kelantan Umno Liaison Committee deputy chairman Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub said indiscriminate felling of trees for agriculture could cause floods in low-lying areas such as Kuala Krai, Machang, Tanah Merah, Kota Baru and Gua Musang.
"Logging causes hill areas to be barren and expedites rainwater to flow into rivers, including Sungai Kelantan, which could lead to floods," he told reporters after opening a mass circumcision ceremony in the Machang parliamentary constituency here today.
A total of 90 pupils from 29 primary schools in the district participated in the ceremony, held with the cooperation of the Machang Hospital and Machang District Education Office.
Ahmad Jazlan, who is also rural and regional development deputy minister, said the state government could apply for allocations from the federal government if it was worried about losing state revenue from reduced agricultural activities.
"I am confident the federal government would consider the application of the state government if the reason was to prevent floods," he added.
On the fate of the Orang Asli in Gua Musang who set up blockades at several timber logging tracks, the Machang member of parliament said the state government needed to settle the problem as soon as possible.
According to him, the state government needed to quickly gazette the Orang Asli settlement and roaming areas as customary land to prevent similar incidents from recurring. — Bernama