Too soon to decide on Gunung Lanno’s preservation, says exco

Can Gunong LANNO be SAVED ......Reproduced from theStar .. quoting YB Tan Kar Hing ....

"GUNUNG Lanno in Simpang Pulai has ... potential …. Scientific (have found strange-looking crystal formations and rare plants, drawings) , ecological and heritage values connected to the hill ….. though intrinsic values ….but preservation efforts could prove difficult….coz “it has already been gazetted for quarry-based industry and there are about 30 quarry sites there ….. and “could have financial and legal implications to the state” ... well whats next .

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METRO NEWS / Thursday, 05 Sep 2019 / By IVAN LOH

GUNUNG Lanno in Simpang Pulai has intrinsic value but it is still too early to say whether it will be preserved and protected, says Tan Kar Hing.

The Perak tourism committee chairman said there were scientific, ecological and heritage values connected to the hill but preservation efforts could prove difficult.

“It does have the potential to be preserved but whether it is workable, is a different matter.

“The area has already been gazetted for quarry-based industry and there are about 30 quarry sites there, ” he told StarMetro. 

“There could be financial and legal implications to the state. This is a challenge for us, which is not easy, ” he added.

There have been calls from caving enthusiasts and environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for the hill to be protected.

According to them, the caves at the hill have potential for tourism, scientific research and also heritage.

Caving enthusiasts and NGOs have reported to have found strange-looking crystal formations and rare plants, drawings on the cave walls and also amazing scenery.

Tan said the state set up a task force, chaired by the State Secretary, earlier this month to look into this.

“We will continue to engage with NGOs and the mining industry players there and hopefully come up with recommendations for a win-win solution, ” he said.

“The State Park Corporation and the state Minerals and Geoscience Department have also visited the area and are compiling their reports, ” he added.

Tan said as the hill had been gazetted for quarries and mining, there were no tourism activities taking place there.

He also said the state had initially considered it as a potential site to be included in the Kinta Valley National Geopark but did not do so because of its status as a quarry zone.

“We have to add on two to three smaller sites to the geopark, annually.

“Gunung Lanno was formerly a potential site but we did not explore further because of its status, ” he said.

“We are exploring other areas though in Tambun and Gunung Lang, hoping to find something new, ” he added.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/metro/metro-news/2019/09/05/too-soon-to-decide-on-gunung-lannos-preservation-says-exco#OYbbcitOg3gerKYi.99