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"CINTAILAH GUNONG KITA - RAKAN MUDA" pleads an ugly plastic tag nailed mercilessly on a blameless tree at the Youth Park. But that no one pays any heed is painfully obvious from the scenes of destruction that greet the walker. The firebrand and the cangkul-wallah are hard at work "improving" the hill. Kerosene helps to spread the fires that  destroy the jungle. The cangkul seeks to turn the hill path into a replica of the staircase at home 

These nature enthusiasts are not wicked. They are simply "doing good". One seeks to destroy what he fears is the hiding place of snakes; the other thinks he is creating a more comfortable climb for his friends, or simply reshaping the hill to the tastes of urban hikers. One does not try to understand the habits of  the creatures of the hills, the other sees not the Sisyphus NATURE of his work which only sends more mud and silt tumbling down into the streams and drains below

The Youth Park hill is the main sufferer. Laid waste by an uncaring granite quarry operator some 50 years ago, the ugly scar is plainly visible even from the channel ferry. The devastasted area has never had a chance to recover its greenery. It is constantly being dug up and burnt away by well meaning people. Even a pit has been dug into which remants of food are thrown instead of being taken down for proper disposal. 

Aiding the destruction are those who sweep up the forest cover and burn the fallen leaves; first timers who cut down 10 year old plants for walking sticks, only to be thrown away at the end of walk; thieves who openly steal suitably sized sticks for sale; then there are the motor cycles whose grapnel wheels are destroying the Moon Gate path. Some walkers have even banded together to build "tea houses", as if the object of hill climbing is to eat and to drink. Trees 50, even 100 years old are cut down for a "better view" of the town.  If only those enthusiasts could harness their energy to the planting of trees and grass! 

The hills are our last frontier. It's a free for all up there. Remember how they planned to give away a large  chunk of the 8,000 acre water catchment area? It seems that anyone can camp where he fancies, put up a kitchen and establish his bailiwick.