Entire village vanishes from Tanah Rata

Independent candidate Cheam says it was to be the venue of her last campaign activity.

PETALING JAYA:  The independent candidate for Tanah Rata went to the village of Pos Trisu on her final campaign trip and was shocked to find that it had entirely disappeared, she said in a press release today.

“Illegal clearing of land was being conducted,” said Dr Cheam May Choo, who is fighting Gerakan’s Ho Yip Kap and DAP’s Leong Ngah Ngah for the Pahang state seat.

“There were several tractors and excavators busy clearing the last untouched corner of Cameron Highlands.”

She also saw two tractors that were broken down and took it as a sign that the land clearing had been going on for some time.

“We watched in silence as the hornbill habitat was being destroyed,” she said. “This place is also less than a kilometre from the famous waterfall of Sungai Wi.”

She alleged that this was just one instance of illegal land clearing on Cameron Highlands, adding that more than 50 acres were affected overall.

She said the culprits must be operating under fake temporary occupation licences (TOL) because the authorities had issued none since 2008.

“This is a water catchment area for the Orang Asli community. What is to become of them?”

“Will this be the future of Cameron Highlands? Farmlands with their plastic sheeting, muddy rivers and the heavy smell of pesticide in the air, and no forests left?”

Cheam, who is a member of the Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands, has been fighting to save forests on the resort hill for several years.

She said she had reported her latest discovery to the appropriate authorities and was hoping for immediate action.