The deployment of soldiers and police in Cameron Highlands is to stem the flow of illegal immigrants, Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said.
The Home Minister said the Pahang government would be responsible for taking action against land owners in the popular hill resort.
"Matters pertaining to land issues in Cameron Highlands fall under the jurisdiction of the state government," Zahid said.
"It is up to the state government to take action against land owners," he told reporters after officiating a function in Putrajaya today.
Zahid said the massive operation being conducted in Cameron Highlands was two-pronged, tackling illegal immigrants and hauling those who hired them.
"The operation by the soldiers and police are not just to arrest illegal immigrants, but to find the agents and employers of these immigrants."
Zahid called on the local authorities in Pahang to cooperate with the soldiers and police to tackle the issue of illegal immigrants in Cameron Highlands.
"This is something against the law, everyone needs to cooperate and work together, including the local authorities."
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak announced that police and soldiers will be deployed to Cameron Highlands to put a stop to illegal land clearing in the area.
He said the decision to deploy police and soldiers was made following discussions with the Sultan of Pahang, Sultan Ahmad Shah.
It was reported that illegal immigrants had been illegally clearing land in Cameron Highlands at night to avoid detection by authorities.
Najib said he had instructed Armed Forces chief Tan Sri Zulkefli Md Zin and Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to work together on the issue.
"Patrols will be carried out at night to ensure no illegal land clearing is carried out. If there are any activities against the law, action will be taken," Najib said yesterday.
Najib said his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, will be visiting Cameron Highlands from tomorrow together with Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
Muhyiddin is the chairman of the special committee on flash floods in Cameron Highlands which was formed due to the recent heavy rainfall in the state.
On November 5, a mudslide in Cameron Highlands claimed five lives, four of whom were foreign workers based at the vegetable farms.
The mudslide on Wednesday claimed the lives of student R. Tunesh, 13; Indonesian vegetable farm worker Anipan, 48; and Nepali vegetable farm worker, Md Yousuf Miya, 66.
Tunesh drowned in Sungai Terlom in Kampung Raja, Anipan was found dead under landslide debris in the Bertam Valley, and Md Yousuf was found dead under debris in Jalan Ulu Merah, Ringlet.
The flood was triggered by heavy rain. About 203 people from 47 families in Kampung Baru and Bertam Valley had to be evacuated to the Ringlet community hall.
People living along the banks of Sungai Bertam were ordered to move out when water was released from the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in stages after the water level at the dam began to rise following heavy rain.
Following the incident, Sultan Ahmad Shah lashed out at “gangsters” who had handed out “yellow letters” to those farming illegally in Cameron Highlands.
The Pahang ruler was quoted by The Star as saying he would pursue palace insiders who had issued the letters – without letterheads – to certain parties, which then proceeded to clear tracts of land for farming.
Illegal farming and indiscriminate land clearing have been identified as the main causes of the mudslide in Cameron Highlands on November 5.
“If I know who they (allegedly senior officials who issued the letters) are, I will punch them. Once you’re a gangster, you’re always a gangster,” Sultan Ahmad told the English daily.
The Sultan also ticked off Cameron Highlands MP Datuk Seri G. Palanivel, who is alsothe natural resources and environment minister.
The Sultan accused the minister of not taking any action to solve the problem of mudslides in the area. –TMI
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.