The Malaysian Insight

THE supply of vegetables to the Klang Valley has not been cut off by the landslide at Kilometre 35 of Jalan Simpang Pulai-Cameron Highlands, growers said.

Lorries ferrying vegetables from Cameron Highlands will now be using the Tapah road instead to bring the supply down to the wholesale market in Selayang.

Chay Ee Mong, secretary of the Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association, said while supply has not been affected, the detour will extend travel time for the lorries carrying goods down the mountain.

“Supply has not been affected as lorries can use the Tapah road. The only thing is that their journey down to Kuala Lumpur, which used to take between four to five hours, might now take them an additional two hours,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The landslide yesterday claimed two lives. The victims were identified as Muhammad Hafiz Hamdi, 31, from Tanjung Piandang in Kerian, who was driving a lorry carrying vegetables, and Tan Chee Heng, 36, from Klang, Selangor, who was driving a MPV.

Earlier today, Perak Public Works Department deputy director Hamdan Ali said the landslide was caused by heavy and sustained rainfall in the area.

The road is expected to be reopened on December 9, weather permitting.

The Tapah road, which will now be used to deliver supplies, was previously closed for upgrading and maintenance work for 10 days, and was only recently reopened to traffic.

“About 65km of the road has been cleaned up. Drivers using the road informed us that it is safe to be used,” said Chay.

Chay, however, cautioned all road users using the Tapah-Kuala Lumpur road to be extra vigilant due to the rainy season.

He added that the extra time taken to deliver the vegetables to the Klang Valley will most likely not push the prices of vegetables up any higher.

The price of vegetables skyrocketed recently up to 200%. Farmers have blamed a combination of factors such as a labour shortage, higher cost of input materials, climate change and supply chain disruptions. – December 3, 2021.