Bukit Mertajam hill damaged

We decided to go up the Bukit Mertajam hill in Cherok Tokun a few days ago. Driving in, we had to stop before the main gate into the forest park because it was closed to all vehicular traffic. We asked the guard why and he replied saying that the road leading up to the summit had been destroyed due to the heavy rain about two weeks ago. That must have been the thunderstorm we experienced on the night of 28 May. Several roads in the town had been inundated with flood waters then. We didn't realise that it had affected the hill too.

But can we go in, we asked the guard hopefully. Okay, lah, you can go it, he replied. If he did not let us in through the gate, he was sure that we would have tried to sneak in somewhere else. Might as well let us through. So, thankfully, we walked in and he closed the gate shut again after us.

As we walked towards the second car park, we could see the extensive damage. Rushing water could be very unforgiving as it destroys everything in its path. In this instance, the water had brought down the earth and soil from further up the hill and the mixture of water and debris had further eroded the road surface and embankments.

I would suppose it is going to take the Forestry Department months before all the damage could be repaired and the park opened to the general public again.