Soldiers, police to monitor illegal land clearing in Camerons, says Najib
Police and soldiers will be deployed to Cameron Highlands to put a stop to illegal land clearing in the area, especially at night, said Datuk Seri Najib Razak today.
The prime minister said the deployment of police and soldiers had been decided on following discussions with the sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah.
It was reported that illegal immigrants had been illegally clearing land in Cameron Highlands at night to avoid detection by authorities.
Najib said he had instructed Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Zulkefli Md Zin and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to work together on the issue.
"Patrols will be carried out at night to ensure no illegal land clearing is carried out. If there are any activities against the law, action will be taken," Najib said.
Najib was speaking to reporters today after officiating the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture & Agrotourism (MAHA) exhibition in Serdang.
Najib said his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, would be visiting Cameron Highlands next week together with Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
Muhyiddin is the chairman of the special committee on flash floods in Cameron Highlands which was formed due to the recent heavy rainfall in the state.
On November 5, a mudslide in Cameron Highlands claimed five lives, four of whom were foreign migrants working on vegetable farms.
The mudslide on Wednesday claimed the lives of student R. Tunesh, 13; an Indonesian vegetable farm worker Anipan, 48; and a Nepali vegetable farm worker, Md Yousuf Miya, 66.
Tunesh drowned in Sungai Terlom in Kampung Raja; Anipan was found dead under landslide debris in the Bertam Valley; and Md Yousuf was found dead under debris in Jalan Ulu Merah, Ringlet.
The flood was triggered by heavy rain. About 203 people from 47 families in Kampung Baru and Bertam Valley had to be evacuated to the Ringlet community hall.
People living along the banks of Sungai Bertam were ordered to move out when water was released from the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in stages after the water level at the dam began to rise following heavy rain.
Following the incident, Sultan Ahmad Shah lashed out at “gangsters” who had handed out “yellow letters” to those farming illegally in Cameron Highlands.
The Pahang ruler was quoted by The Star as saying he would pursue palace insiders who had issued the letters – without letterheads – to certain parties, which then proceeded to clear tracts of land for farming.
Illegal farming and indiscriminate land clearing have been identified as the main causes of the mudslide in Cameron Highlands on November 5.
“If I know who they (allegedly senior officials who issued the letters) are, I will punch them. Once you’re a gangster, you’re always a gangster,” Sultan Ahmad told the English daily.
The sultan, who was visiting the Bertam Valley, denied knowing of the issuance of the “surat kuning” (letters printed on yellow sheets).
Yellow is the royal colour.
“Ask them to come and see me, whoever wrote the letter, and saya akan bagi dia cukup-cukup (teach them a lesson),” the sultan was quoted as saying.
The sultan also said that all illegal farmers in Cameron Highlands should cease their activities, Bernama said.
The sultan also ticked off Cameron Highlands MP Datuk Seri G. Palanivel for washing his hands of the problem, Utusan Malaysia reported yesterday.
Palanivel is also the natural resources and environment minister.
The sultan accused the minister of not taking any action to solve the problem of mudslides in the area.
“My settlement officers will not be able to stop them. Because they will be hammered by these people (farmers). They employ gangsters,” Sultan Ahmad Shah was quoted as saying by The Star. – November 22, 2014.
