KUANTAN: The Pahang government has not received any application pertaining to a proposed RM100 million nature-based adventure park - Escape Cameron Highlands - at the popular highlands resort.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismai, cleared the air on the controversial project, saying the state government did not receive any formal applications on the project or consent for the outdoor theme park to be built.
"It is not true (that the state government gave the green light) as the matter was never discussed during the state executive council meeting. The Pahang government did not receive any applications on the project or speak to anyone about it.
"Even the state secretary (Datuk Seri Dr Sallehuddin Ishak) has confirmed that there has been no formal application on the proposed project. They (developers) cannot do anything unless they obtain permission from the state government.....till today, zero (no application)," he told reportersafter visiting the SMK Bukit Rangin vaccination centre (PPV) near here today.
Wan Rosdy was commenting on the planned theme park, Escape Cameron Highlands at Habu, Cameron Highlands, which had sparked concern among environmental non-governmental organisations (NGO), environmentalists and locals who fear the project might lead to more environmental issues.
On a claim that the project was to be developed on privately-owned land, Wan Rosdy said the developer will still be responsible to submit an application to the state government.
"They have to get approval from the state government or else it will be illegal. If it is private land, it does not mean they (owner) can open a weapon factory or do as they wish,.... they have to adhere to the procedures.
"Even for logging activities on privately-owned land, the owner has to seek the consent of the state government before they start to bring out the goods (logs). We have laws and regulations....they (land owners) have to apply to the state government," he said.
Reports began to emerge on the proposed Escape Cameron Highlands in early August with the first phase of the theme park, spanning across a 60 acre (24.28ha) scheduled to open in the first half of 2023.
Construction is scheduled to begin in December this year with the overall investment estimated to exceed RM100 million over subsequent phases, spanning over the next 10 years.
However, the project built at the natural hilly landscape of Cameron Highlands had raised fears of worsening environmental issues as the highlands was a landslide-prone area. This caused various quarters including the locals to object to the project.