Significant win for Green Cow residents

Kuantan High Court grants them an injunction against developer bent on bulldozing a project through in Cameron Highlands

PETALING JAYA: The Kuantan High Court’s decision to grant an injunction against a developer is a significant victory for the people of Cameron Highlands, said PSM.

Green Cow residents, with the help of PSM, successfully obtained an injunction to stop the developer LTT Developers Sdn Bhd from carrying out soil movement works near their homes.

High Court Judge Mariana Yahya also set aside LTT’s ex parte and inter parte injunctions to stop the residents from encroaching or dwelling on the land located in Ulu Telom.

Cameron Highlands PSM secretary B Suresh Kumar described the decision by judge Mariana as a major victory for the people.

“The decision proves that there is a real danger posed by LTT Developers Sdn Bhd,” said Suresh.

Initially eight families had filed the case but five withdew.

In July this year Cameron Highlands magistrate Nik Habri Muhamad acknowledged the danger posed by the developer on the residents who are living at the foot of the hills.

Following that LTT obtained injunctions against eight residents, prohibiting their families from entering the land earmarked for the construction of four storey shoplots.

The residents’ lawyer, Yudistra Darma Dorai, in his submission, also filed an affidavit from an independent civil engineer on the risks involved in the developer’s work.

The engineer, M Saravanan, who has 17 years of experience, said there was a danger of landslides, rock falls and landslips which will endanger the lives of the neighbouring residents.

Yudistra’s fellow counsel, Noorima Fairuz, told FMT that the case would now be heard at a full trial, the date to be fixed by Mariana.

Meanwhile, Suresh said that he hoped that the state government would keep to its promise to relocate and compensate the residents.

“We are asking for RM100,000 for each of the three families. That amount would enable them to build a house,” he said.