CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah Sultan Abu Bakar has called for an end to illegal farming here.

“Illegal farming has been in existence since the British (colonial) times. It’s an infectious disease.

“They cannot go on doing this. We must put to an end (to illegal farming), by hook or by crook, we will do it,” he told reporters here.

He indicated that stern action would be taken against these farmers, adding; “One of these days you’ll see a hundred of them behind bars.”

However, the Sultan said the state needed the Federal Government’s help, as Pahang did not have enough personnel and resources to stop the problem.

“My settlement officers will not be able to stop them. Because they will be hammered by these people… They employ gangsters,” he said.

Sultan Ahmad said this after being brought here to view the damage done to the town after the Nov 6 mud floods.

During his visit, the Sultan was seen berating local and state government officials, especially after viewing the Bertam Valley Chinese school and the rubbish together with the mud piled up next to it.

“How can they go and study? It’s very unhygienic…Tell me, if I come here in six months will this rubbish still be here?” he said.

It is believed that illegal farming has been the cause of many of the landslides and floods occurring here in Cameron Highlands.

Aside from being set up indiscriminately across the countryside, the plastic sheeting set up for farm roofs here channel rainwater directly into rivers, instead of being absorbed by the ground.-thestar