GEORGE TOWN, January 26 – Taman Rimba Bukit Mertajam was established in the late 1970s located in the Bukit Mertajam Forest Reserve with an area of 312.95 hectares located in the Seberang Perai Tengah district in the Bukit Mertajam Parliamentary constituency and Machang Bubuk DUN area. Puncak Bukit Mertajam is at an altitude of 380 meters above sea level and it houses a telecommunication tower operated and managed by Telekom Malaysia Berhad.
Taman Eko Rimba Bukit Mertajam is an amenity forest location that is open for free to visitors. In 2019, Taman Rimba received the highest number of visitors, namely 434,364 visitors compared to Taman Eko Rimba Teluk Bahang (147,420 visitors) and Taman Negeri Bukit Panchor Forest (17,486 people). This makes Taman Rimba a destination of choice for the public to engage in leisure activities, cycling and picnics.
Leisure activities in this park are divided into three (3) areas according to the type of leisure activities, namely;
(a) foothills containing facilities and amenities for the public such as chalets, stalls, canteens, public toilets and squares;
(b) the bathing pool area; and
(c) the area of climbing to the top of Bukit Mertajam via a tarred road
In September to November 2017, Taman Rimba Bukit Mertajam received unusually heavy rain incidents that have resulted in landslides at 66 locations of slope cliffs, fallen trees, river overflows and damage to tarred roads along 3.6 kilometers from the foot of the hill to peak. The damage was exacerbated when an unusually heavy rain incident occurred again in May 2018 which resulted in the recreational activities of visitors in the area being affected. The incident has garnered public attention and mass media coverage urging the State Government to carry out comprehensive repairs in the area.
Following the landslide incident at 66 locations in Taman Rimba Bukit Mertajam in 2017 and 2018, the State Government through the Penang State Forestry Department has taken immediate restoration action by building a new retaining wall (Gabion), construct drains, concrete walkways and other related works in addition to covering risky slopes with canvas with a view to reducing erosion. This immediate repair activity has cost RM 550,000 from 2018 to 2020 through the State Development Budget allocation.
A Slope Improvement Committee From Kaki Bukit To Puncak Bukit Mertajam comprising the relevant departments and agencies has been established. The committee has held several meetings to find the best and effective solution, in addition to the damage area involved, which is 3.6 km from the foot of the hill to the top of Bukit Mertajam is also supervised by Syarikat Telekom Malaysia Berhad.
The meeting was held several times to get a true picture of the damage and the costs involved to carry out the overall repair for a long time in addition to getting cooperation from the landowners. In February 2018, the Committee has obtained an agreement on the total cost of repairs involved, which is RM 17,902,850.00 million and needs to be submitted to the Federal Government to cover the high cost of repairs.
The State Government through the State Economic Planning Division (BPEN) has submitted an application for improvement of RM 17,902,850.00 to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources (KeTSA) in 2019 for the 4th Rolling Plan (RP) allocation period, Malaysia Plan to -11.
On 25 November 2020, KeTSA approved the Landslide Repair Works Project on the Slope of Jalan Tar from Kaki Bukit to Puncak Bukit Mertajam Along 3.6 Kilometers at Taman Rimba Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang under the 12th Malaysia Plan Development Project (2021-2025) with a total ceiling of RM 15 million. This project is managed by the General Building Works Branch, Public Works Department (JKR) as the Program Manager for the repair project.
Landslide Repair Works Project On The Slope Of Jalan Tar From Kaki Bukit To Puncak Bukit Mertajam Along 3.6 Kilometers In Taman Rimba Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah, Penang For The First Rolling Plan (RP1) Of 2021 starting in January 2021 with an allocation of RM1 .5 million to carry out the first phase works namely land investigation and land survey works by companies that have been appointed by JKR.
In November 2021, JKR then appointed a contractor company to carry out Landslide Repair Works on the Slope of Jalan Tar from Kaki Bukit to Puncak Bukit Mertajam Along 3.6 Kilometers at Taman Rimba Bukit Mertajam and handing over the site to the contractor company was done on 15 December 2021 and the implementation of this project took a time period of 104 weeks from the appointment period.
The implementation of this repair project will place Taman Eko Rimba as a restricted area due to safety factors during the period of the repair work. Based on the need, Taman Eko Rimba Bukit Mertajam will be closed to the public for 104 weeks until the repair work is completed.
Several actions have been taken before the decision to completely close this Forest Eco Park for 104 weeks for the slope repair work as follows;
(a) Further discussions with the PWD and other stakeholders on the suitability of the Bukit Mertajam Forest Eco Park to be closed in stages or according to the repair areas involved to allow recreational activities in other areas such as swimming pools to continue;
(b) take into account the welfare of small business tenants; and
(c) periodic maintenance works for telecommunication towers by Telekom Malaysia.
Beginning February 1, 2022, repair works involving major works involving the use of heavy machinery will begin. The area along the slope to the top is unsafe for visitors. This situation prohibits all visitors to carry out climbing activities to the top of the hill, including through forest trails to the top of the hill.
However, visitors can still engage in other recreational activities in addition to repair areas and other restricted areas. Stall business activities that have been granted a permit by the State Forestry Department can still operate as usual. This includes the State Forestry Department Office building, namely the Seberang Perai Selatan District Forest Ranger Office and the Department Nursery which operates as usual.
The public and visitors are advised to always abide by the instructions that will be issued from time to time. Visitors are also advised to always be aware of the warning signs installed to prevent any untoward incidents during the slope repair work. The public can still carry out daily leisure activities at other locations such as the Mengkuang Dam which has also been opened to visitors.
It is hoped that the public will be patient as the repair of this slope is for safety and to provide a conducive recreational area for the public in the future.
