CAMERON HIGHLANDS: It has been almost a year since the National Security Council (NSC) started clamping down on illegally cleared state land here.

However, checks by the New Straits Times last week found that farmers had returned to farm on the state land that was cleared.

Among the areas that are seeing the return of illegal farming activities are Bertam Valley, Tringkap and Kampung Raja.

Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (Reach) president R. Ramakrishnan said the operation to stop state land from being illegally farmed was a failure.

“When the operation started, there was much brouhaha, but as months passed, everything seems to have died down.”

Describing the operation as a “grasshopper” tactic, Ramakrishnan said the authorities should be more systematic in eliminating illegal farming.

“Instead of hopping from one area to another to clean up illegal farms, the authorities should either clean it from north to south of the highlands, or vice-versa.”

Ramakrishnan said things could get worse if not tackled effectively, adding that Cameron Highlands had seen more flash floods of late.

“Flash floods are getting more frequent, with the most recent one happening last month in Kampung Raja.”

Ramakrishnan, who blamed the flash floods on illegally cleared land and illegally built greenhouses, urged the authorities to look into the matter seriously.

“We are not asking for farming to stop, but we hope farmers would (follow proper guidelines).”

A legitimate farmer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed that several parcels of land previously cleared by the authorities were again being farmed illegally.

“Some farmers moved to other areas to farm (illegally),” he said, adding that Sungai Palas and Kampung Raja were being illegally cleared.

He said foreign workers were taking over farming operations in Cameron Highlands.

“They are renting land from farmers who were given temporary occupation licences.”

NSC National Operations Management Centre deputy director Assistant Commissioner Mohd Shaharudin Baharom, however, said operations to stop illegal farms had stopped.

“Our focus is to widen rivers following the recent flash flood in Kampung Raja.”

He said operations to stop illegal farms were concentrated on areas that were larger than 2ha and located on slopes.

Shaharudin said there were some 404.7ha of illegal farms that had yet to be demolished. On illegal workers, Shaharudin said a joint operation with the Immigration Department recently nabbed 89 foreigners, 25 of whom did not have valid work permits.

– New Strait Times