Cameron Highlands has recorded a significant 4°C increase in average temperature over the past decade, raising alarm over worsening environmental conditions and heightened risks of natural disasters.
According to the Regional Environmental Awareness of Cameron Highlands (REACH), unchecked and large-scale development has fundamentally altered the hill station’s once-cool climate.
According to Utusan, REACH president A. Dilip Martin said that the average temperature has risen from 20°C in 2015 to 24°C in 2025.
‘Rapid development to blame
He warned that if unplanned development continues, Cameron Highlands may lose its long-standing reputation as a cool-climate tourist destination.
10 years of land clearing and intensive construction have drastically changed the highland’s climate. The area is now more vulnerable to floods and landslides,” he said.
Earlier this year, experts highlighted that rising national temperatures are strongly linked to rapid urbanisation and human activities.
Hotter days & warmer nights
A. Dilip Martin said temperatures still drop slightly during the rainy season, but the dry season has become “unusually hot.”
Previously, nighttime temperatures could fall to 13–14°C, but now daytime temperatures often reach 25–27°C.
This shift has led to disappointment among tourists, many of whom have complained on social media that Cameron Highlands “no longer feels cool like before.”
“The highlands do not need excessive development. Tourists come for natural scenery and cool weather, not urbanisation,” he added.
Authorities have urged a stop to development on more than 52 acres of forest land to prevent further destruction and reduce disaster risks.
Several areas have already seen severe impact:
- Berinchang: Green spaces shrinking due to aggressive integrated development
- Kampung Taman Sedia & Tringkap: Increasing congestion linked to commercial expansion and insufficient parking
REACH, which has been working on Cameron Highlands conservation for 24 years, opposes development projects that bring no meaningful benefit to the highlands.
