BUILDING more hotels and attractions on Fraser’s Hill will not necessarily help the local community, said residents, after two of the town’s iconic buildings were demolished to make way for a 14-storey resort and spa.

They told The Malaysian Insight that existing hotels and resorts are usually empty except during public holidays.

Locals are against the construction of a 180-room high-rise being built by a private developer on the hilltop, saying it will mar the area’s beauty.

They are also concerned about the project’s environmental impact, and urged authorities to leave the place as it is.

“There are already resorts and hotels, including bungalow accommodation, that can be rented by families. Seldom are the rooms at the hotels and resorts here occupied,” said a long-time resident who wanted to be known only as Uncle D.

“So, how can a 180-room resort generate income for locals, when it’s clear that existing accommodation is not being taken up?”

Uncle D, who works in a Pahang government agency, said he is not against development in general, but the construction of the new resort is “not proper” for Fraser’s Hill.

“Fraser’s Hill is not like Cameron Highlands or Genting Highlands, which have a vibrant nightlife. Here, the town is dead at 9pm. How do you attract people here?”

The highland resort destination, nestled between the mountains of Pahang and Selangor, is a two-hour journey from Kuala Lumpur. It was named after Scottish prospector Louis James Fraser, who opened a tin mine in 1890.

Last month, the Maybank lodge, an English-style cottage built in the 1960s, was bulldozed along with popular birdwatching site Jelai Resort to clear the area for the new resort.

A Tourism Pahang spokesman said no statement will be issued on the matter as discussions are ongoing between residents, local environmental group Persatuan Alam dan Warisan Bukit Fraser (PAWBF), developer Ikhasas Group and the state government.

PAWBF said locals were kept in the dark about the project, and it did not get construction approval from the Environment Department.

Secretary Puteri Balqis Hairul Azman said Ikhasas has yet to put up signs indicating what kind of structure is being built or providing other details relating to the project.

“There is no sign saying construction is in progress. They just built walls to prevent people from coming in. We don’t even know when the project is set for completion.

“Locals don’t know what’s happening. Outsiders who come here for birdwatching are shocked to learn that the site is gone.”

Another Pahang government employee said while some may agree with the new development, others feel that it will kill off small local businesses.

“As someone who was born and raised here, I see that the development isn’t helping us much. I am the third generation of my family still working here on Fraser’s Hill.

“Tourists do come here, but it’s not really a hotspot. Those who come here either love nature or want some peace and quiet.

“If you have a building whose construction kills our forest and animals, who would want to come here? And if people stop coming, what will happen to the small resorts and hotels?” said the man, who wished to remain anonymous.

Wan, a 70-year-old who runs a restaurant on Fraser’s Hill, remembers the days when the place was known as the “English town of Malaysia”.

With the demolition of the Maybank lodge and construction of modern-style homes, she said, Fraser’s Hill will no longer be known as a unique destination.

“When I came here 45 years ago, I had to wear two or three layers of clothing as it was very cold. Slowly but surely, it’s getting warmer as the trees are being chopped down.

“Fraser’s Hill is not what it used to be. Among its unique attractions are the old English houses and resorts, but now, they’re tearing down the old buildings and constructing new ones with no connection to history.

“The cool weather is gone, the identity is gone. The people living here get nothing; they only have memories.” – August 8, 2020.