Pahang MB and Palanivel accused of lying

PSM disputes a statement about Cameron Highlands issues and seeks Najib’s intervention.

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PETALING JAYA: Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob and MIC president G Palanivel have reneged on their promise to resolve security problems and land ownership issues faced by farmers and traders in Cameron Highlands, Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) alleged today.

It also accused the two of dishonesty when they put out a statement on July 17 claiming to have settled those problems, which are the source of complaints from farmers and traders in Green Cow, Kea Farm and Blue Valley.

The leader of PSM’s Cameron Highlands branch, B Suresh Kumar, made the allegations after he submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s office. He also requested an appointment with Najib.

“We want Najib to resolve the problems since Adnan and Palanivel have failed to keep their word,” he told reporters.

Green Cow used to be farming land spread out atop a hill. Property developers are currently carrying out earth-moving activities there, apparently endangering the lives and properties of farmers who live below the hill.

In Kea Farm, the state government is demolishing trading stalls to give way to a commercial project.

In Blue Valley, farmers are complaining that they have been denied land ownership despite having worked the land for nearly 50 years.

Cronyism

Suresh accused the state government of giving land to its cronies to the detriment of the farmers and traders.

“People allied to the state government and their cronies are given land titles even though applications to open new land have been stopped since 2002,” he said.

“The people have lost trust and confidence in Adnan’s leadership. He has not met the people of Cameron Highlands since 2010.”

He also said Adnan promised in May that he would meet the farmers and traders but had not done so.

As for Palanivel, Suresh said the MIC chief was trying to give the impression that he was doing something for the people of Cameron Highlands even though he was not.

He attributed this to Palanivel’s interest in seeking election to the Cameron Highlands parliament seat.

Suresh was among 20 activists who were charged under the Peaceful Assembly Act on July 11 over a protest a day earlier outside the Pahang Menteri Besar’s office.

Referring to that demonstration, which was to highlight the issues in Cameron Highlands, he said Palanivel met him and other organisers on July 5 to dissuade them.

“We asked him to follow us to get an answer from the Menteri Besar, but he said he was too busy,” he said. “And then on July 17, he and Adnan gave a joint statement that all the issues had been resolved.”