Farmers Seek Better Solution As Pahang Gov T Clears Unlicensed Farms

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As the Pahang government embarks on a major operation to clear out unlicensed farms in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands, affected farmers are appealing for more time, as well as a dialogue in hopes for a more favourable resolution

According to Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, 61 farms spanning 55 hectares will be cleared to prevent the Kuala Terla water catchment area from being further polluted
The first phase, which began on Feb 25 and will run till mid-March, involves clearing 11 farms. Fifty farms will be affected in the second phase, which is scheduled to begin in April
Wan Rosdy explained the operation was triggered following a Cameron Highlands district enforcement committee meeting that was held on Feb 1
“It was decided during the meeting that the focus of the enforcement operations this time would be the pencerobohan (intrusion) of river and road reserve land that are located within the Kuala Terla water catchment area, especially Sungai Ichat which falls within the Ulu Telom district
“The operation had to be done to prevent the intake for the water catchment area, located along Ipoh Road in Kuala Terla, from being further polluted as a result of farming activities due to the use of poison and fertilisers,” he said in a statement to Malaysiakini when asked
One-week notice deemed ‘unfair’Lee Ying Loon helps run his parents’ five-acre cucumber and cherry tomato farm along Ipoh Road in Kuala Terla. The farm has been there for the past 55 years
On Feb 18, he received a letter from the Cameron Highlands Land Office notifying him that he had seven days to clear out the family farm. “This is absolutely unfair. Don’t give us just seven days. How are we going to move our whole farm? We will lose all our crops
“[...] I hope they can delay the operation and give us time to reap our crops. Maybe in two to three months, or even six months,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted
Lee also denied that his farm polluted the Kuala Terla water catchment area
“We are near the water catchment area, but we do not pollute the water source, we are about 1km away from it,” he claimed
When pressed on the one-week notice, Wan Rosdy responded that the time frame for such eviction notices was at the sole discretion of the land office as there was no provision in the law on the matter
“Seeing as they continued their (farming) activities even after we gave them notice, this means the seven-day period given this time was reasonable,” he said
A dialogue, and resettlementAfter receiving the notice, Lee said he and other farmers had approached various parties for help, but lamented that their cries fell on deaf ears
“They did not even give us a chance to discuss terms with them. We tried to talk to our newly elected MP Ramli Mohd Nor, but he did not want to meet us
“We tried to look for MCA, but did not manage to discuss with them,” he said
When contacted, Ramli directed questions to Wan Rosdy as it involves a land matter
Similarly, another affected farmer, who requested anonymity for fear of further reprisal, told Malaysiakini he had previously approached relevant state government agencies but was refused a meeting
His two-acre vegetable farm in Kuala Terla was completely cleared by the authorities last Monday
“What we ask for is very simple. We hope we can sit down and discuss things with the relevant government departments. We hope we can arrive at a better resolution
“Don’t destroy our farms. How can we work like this?” he appealed when contacted
Both farmers managed to get in touch with Tanah Rata assemblyperson Chiong Yoke Kong (photo below), who explained there was little the Pakatan Harapan federal government could do as land matters fall under the state government's jurisdiction
Chiong agreed that the seven-day notice was “unreasonable,” and called for the farmers to be given six months to clear out, and also be given an area to resettle
“I do not oppose the enforcement (operations) on a water catchment area and I don’t object to the state government trying to preserve the area, but they should give the farmers a way out and an exit plan
“Yes, we want to clear them from the area, but we also have to let them have a place to resettle. That is a (more) reasonable solution,” he told Malaysiakini when contacted about the issue
Chiong explained that the farming community in Kuala Terla had been an integral part of Tanah Rata and Cameron Highlands for several generations
“We have to strike a balance between environment issues and agricultural issues
“Enforcement, without the humanitarian aspect, is not fair to the local people,” he added
10 years without a permitMeanwhile, Wan Rosdy stressed that the Kuala Terla farmers had trespassed on state land for the past 10 years. “They have been intruding on state land without any permission since 2009 and they have not obtained any licence from the state government since then,” he said.
However, both farmers who spoke to Malaysiakini claimed they had attempted to apply for temporary occupation licences (TOL) over the years, but did not receive replies from the land office
“We used to have permits for the land, but after 2007, the state government did not allow us to apply for new permits or renew our permits
“And they did not tell us where we could resettle. We tried to apply for permits every year,” Lee told Malaysiakini. - Mkini

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