VISITORS head to Hutan Lipur Sungai Tua (HLST) in Ulu Yam and Taman Eko Rimba Kanching (TERK) in Templer Park, Rawang, to enjoy the fresh air. Instead, they are greeted with a foul stench.

These two popular picnic spots with waterfalls and hiking trails in Selangor used to be ideal destinations for nature lovers but have now turned into eyesores.

Domestic rubbish such as plastic bags and polystyrene containers, beverage bottles, diapers and food leftovers are strewn on rocks and in the running water.

"Five workers and a supervisor clean up the area thrice a day on weekdays and four times a day on weekends."- Md Saad Mahsah



The rubbish is spread everywhere next to the waterfalls where visitors usually sit and enjoy the cool water.



Even cooking oil and clothes can be seen in the running water and stuck between rocks.

StarMetro visited both forest parks recently and was appalled by the filthy conditions.

Building material strewn around in Taman Eko Rimba Kanching‘s trails where construction is being carried out. — Photos: ART CHEN and SADIQ SANI/The Star

At HLST along Jalan Hulu Yam Baru-Batu Caves, rubbish bags were seen stacked up at the entrance to the waterfalls area and it was evident that it had not been collected for weeks.

This rubbish attracts monkeys, wild boars and other wild animals, posing a threat to the public.

However, the waterfall area was well-maintained as there was less litter strewn about.

HLST, which is managed by the Selangor Forestry Department, has an entrance fee of RM1 for adults and 50sen for children.

Mohd Rofiq Ismail, 51, who brings his family to HLST once a month, said the rubbish along the trail and some inside the stream was very unhygienic.

“The water here is cool and clean, but the rubbish is a major turn-off. Sometimes, I wonder why people throw rubbish into this river as it eventually ends up as our drinking water,” he said.

Rubbish left along the trails will eventually end up in the streams at Hutan Lipur Sungai Tua.

While the entrance to TERK looked appealing, the level of cleanliness there was worse.

This forest park is managed by Tourism Selangor.

Rubbish can be found in all the four levels of the waterfalls.

At the second level, there were even construction waste and rubbish burning inside a hoarded-off area.

Here too, monkeys are attracted to the rubbish. They rummage the bins for food scraps which are then scatterred all over the picnic spots.

The monkeys also disturb patrons of restaurants located next to the carpark by jumping on to the roofs and hanging from nearby trees.

Avid hiker R. Rajendran, 56, said he and his group usually hiked up the trail of the park on weekends and saw rubbish all along the path.

Despite this signage in Taman Eko Rimba Kanching, rubbish is still left behind by visitors.

“The air here is so fresh, especially at 7am, but this is spoiled by the foul smell of decaying rubbish.

“We need to preserve our natural heritage.

"Rubbish placed along the trail only gives our country a bad image,’’ he added.

Selayang MCA secretary Ryan Ng said although there were no signboards warning visitors not to litter at the entrance to HLST, it was common sense to maintain the cleanliness of the place.

“Visitors should bring along a bag to discard their own rubbish and dispose of it properly after they leave the park.

“The public do not need to be educated on this. It must be a culture for everyone.

“If this is adopted, and every Malaysian ensures their own backyard and surroundings are free from rubbish, Malaysia will be a clean country.

“I hope the authorities will instil this culture to visitors to the park,’’ he said.

Rubbish burning within a hoarded-off area at Level Two of the waterfalls at Taman Eko Rimba Kanching.

Selayang MIC chairman M.B. Raja said Tourism Selangor should ensure the environment is kept clean, especially the rivers.

“People must be smarter and observe cleanliness at such major tourist spots,’’ he said.

Tourism Selangor product business development manager Md Saad Mahsah said rubbish at TERK was from construction in the park.

He said the construction by the Tourism and Culture Ministry was expected to be completed by August.

“The construction includes 10 gazebos, a cemented trail to Level Four of the waterfalls, a surau, toilets, changing rooms, 100 parking bays and deepening of the river there.

A layer of oil in this pool of water at Hutan Lipur Sungai Tua, most likely from the cooking oil used during barbecues there.

“Five workers and a supervisor clean up the area thrice a day on weekdays and four times a day on weekends,” he said.

Md Saad added that stray dogs and monkeys rummaged the rubbish bins and scatter garbage everywhere, including into the river and up trees.

“Although there are signboards placed at the entrance informing visitors not to throw rubbish as well as not to bring alcohol into the area, it is simply ignored.

“We are unable to check everyone’s bags for these items.

The rubbish bin in Hutan Lipur Sungai Tua is overflowing, yet visitors continue dumping rubbish around it.

“On weekends, visitors have picnics and leave rubbish everywhere,” he said.

He added that visitors were also often seen feeding the monkeys fruits and bread, which encouraged the primates to lurk around.

Md Saad said that in June, the department would distribute pamphlets reminding visitors not to litter in the park and not to use plastic bags or polystyrene packaging.



