Recovery plan for Cameron Highlands outlined

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Muhyiddin (seated centre) addressing members of the media after chairing the Cameron Highlands Flash Floods and Landslides Committee special meeting. — Bernama photo

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin outlines the action plan to rehabilitate Cameron Highlands as the country’s leading resort.

Muhyiddin, who is also the Flash Floods and Landslides Committee chairman in Cameron Highlands said the short and long term plans, included development project supervision, agricultural activities and illegal immigrant problem in the highlands.

“This effort is not only to conserve the environment but also to bring back the golden age of Cameron Highlands as a well-known resort and tourism centre with pristine surrounding and natural forest that is very attractive,” he told reporters after chairing the Cameron Highlands Flash Floods and Landslides Committee special meeting here yesterday.

To supervise development in Cameron  Highlands, he said the Rural and Urban Planning Department was asked to review the Local Plan that was approved previously to enable it to be improved and adapted to the current times.

“For example for property development that is being submitted, the state government can consider or limit the area usage to be developed,” he said.

For agricultural activities, Muhyiddin said the new agricultural areas need not be set up anymore as the land exploited for agriculture had reached almost  8,600 hectares.

He said based on the actual Cameron Highlands planning, the agricultural area only covered 2,300 to 2,500 hectres of land.

“Apart from that, for the land cultivate, we also have to see what is considered as suitable,” he said.

He said the Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) needed to be freezed for the time being so that any illegal agricultural activities could be detected.

On the problems of illegals who worked there, Muhyiddin said all state and federal agencies needed to take firm action based on the existing laws.

“According to the Attorney-General, we do not have any problems from the legal aspect, it is already very good (relating) to the question of land and illegals or illegal land exploitation. What is important is enforcement enforcement, enforcement, enforcement,” he said.

He also dislosed that Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Cina Lembah Bertam will be move to a safer place in accordance with the agreement by the school board, which is financed by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB).

On farmers’ claims that they had applied for the 6P Whitening Process for illegals and paid the fees but had yet to receive the confirmation document, he asked the employers concerned to refer the problem to the Immigration Department again.

“What is important is proof if they said they have paid, have finger prints but cannot obtain valid work letter means that there is some matters still hanging. If it is true it is valid, authentic, then we can consider the matter,” he said.

Commenting on claims there were 2,000 to 3,000 UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) card holders who were working in Cameron Highlands, he said :”We did not sign any convention on these refugees, it has to be discussed with UNHCR and then to be informed to the Malaysian government and if we think there are reasonable requirements it can be considered in the cases that occur here,” he said.

On allegations of corruption among enforcement and government officers that resulted in widespread land exploitation, he said sufficient evidence was needed before any allegation was made against them.

“We have to be fair to the officers or any quarters for that matter, even if they are not government officers, we cannot point fingers,” he said.

Muhyiddin said the public could channel information to the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) if they had any information on such claims and said MACC was an independent body that would take the appropriate action if it was proven to be true.

He said all agencies would be grouped together in a one-stop centre here for  a suitable period to ensure the effectiveness of Cameron Highlands’ recovery.

The mud flood and landslide in Kampung Raja, Pekan Ringlet and Lembah Bertam in Cameron Highlands last Nov 5, claimed five lives with over 90 victims from 28 families forced to move to the evacuation centre at the Ringlet community hall.

Illegal land encroachment is said to be among the factors that caused floods and landslides in this highlands district. — Bernama