Jiapu, Malaysia, August 10th (Xinhua) – Silk Road Writing | The “Green Backbone” in the Rainforest of Malaysia
Although it is only a short 50 minute drive from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, to Kapu in Selangor, the humid and hot climate and dense vegetation give the journalist a sense of time travel from modern times to the past, from industrial civilization to the pristine jungle. Amidst the boundless greenery, a massive cross-border railway project is proceeding in an orderly manner. For the locals, after the railway is completed, it will be like a “backbone” that runs through the Malay Peninsula, and it will be a “green backbone”.
The ninth branch camp of the Malaysia East Coast Railway (MCA) project is located in Kapu. Adjacent to the Klang River basin, the towering and lush tropical vegetation here can withstand sea winds but cannot prevent the continuous influx of humid air.
The environment away from the hustle and bustle of the city may give tourists a sense of novelty, but it brings many challenges to the project construction. The deputy manager in charge of construction technology at the Ninth Division, Gao Chao, told reporters that the silt thickness along the road near the Klang River basin can reach 40 to 50 meters, and there is still about 4 meters of flowing mud on the ground, which has almost no bearing capacity. Building railways here requires superb skills and full patience.
Standing at the construction site, the reporter observed the busy and orderly work of the workers and masters from Malaysia and China. Laying high-strength geotextile, mechanical filling of sand and gravel materials, roller compaction forming… Looking around, one side is a tight and sturdy construction platform, while the other side of the construction area is still a dark and viscous mud.
For the builders of China Communications Construction, the goal is to maximize ecological and soil conservation through green construction methods, allowing local people to enjoy convenient transportation while retaining clear river water and dense forests.
The belief in green is hidden in the details. For example, the construction party carefully preserves “vegetation channels” on both sides of the railway, reconnecting the ecological areas separated by the railway and minimizing the impact of construction on the local ecosystem; Railway slope greening specifically selects some native plants, which not only improves survival rate but also ensures ecological sustainability.
Equally important are the swamps in the jungle. The local environmental department has put forward high requirements for water quality protection around the swamp. Environmental officer Fariz Ficri from the Ninth Division inspects environmental protection measures along the construction site every day. He told reporters that the construction party has set up interception and filtration facilities, regularly checks the water quality of surrounding water bodies, and formulated emergency response mechanisms for abnormal situations.
To minimize disturbance to the ecosystem, builders have set up drainage ditches, isolation ponds, settling ponds, etc. around the construction area to ensure that natural water bodies are not polluted. At the same time, the slope is specially equipped with a barrier net to ensure that frequent and abundant rainfall does not cause serious soil erosion.
Protecting the environment means protecting our home and ourselves, “Fariz excitedly told reporters. He witnessed the entire process of the” green railway “from blueprint to construction, and even the formation of some sections, including project route planning, environmental protection plan formulation, and green construction training. The metaphor of ‘green spine’ is too appropriate
Green mountains and clear waters are as valuable as mountains of gold and silver. China’s green development concept resonates with builders in the rainforest. The ‘green railway’ they developed integrates the concepts of ecological civilization and sustainable development throughout the entire project cycle.
The interview is about to end, and the reporter met a local resident of Jiapu. He frankly said that at the beginning of the railway construction, people had some conflicting emotions, fearing that the project would make the river at their doorstep muddy and the forest disappear. Now, residents who have witnessed the construction process feel at ease. The water is clear and the forest is dense, just like before. We look forward to the day when the ‘Green Backbone’ is built