Nine Pahang Pakatan Harapan state assemblypersons have issued a joint memorandum calling for the state government to allow for a rent-free period of three years for Cameron Highlands farmers.
In its memo, the nine representatives also urged the state government to review the rent and terms of Cameron Highlands agricultural land lease in order to reduce the burden of farmers in the wake of Covid-19 and the economic crisis.
The nine representatives include state opposition leader Chiong Yoke Kong (Tanah Rata), Lee Chin Chen (Bilut), Young Syefura Othman (Ketari), Kamache Doray Rajoo (Sabai), Chow Yu Hui (Tras), Woo Chee Wan (Mentakab), Leong Yu Man (Triang), Lee Chean Chung (Semambu) and Sim Chon Siang (Teruntum).
They referred to offer letters of land leases for Cameron Highlands agricultural land issued by Pahang Corporation Sdn Bhd (PCSB), after Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail announced on Jan 30 that 1018 vegetable farmers operating on land there with Temporary Operating License (TOL) status would be offered a registered rental arrangement.
After studying thoroughly the terms stipulated in the contract and listening to the opinions of the farmers and their associations, the nine assemblypersons said one of the most surprising changes is the huge rent increase.
"Based on the offer letter, the latest annual rent is RM4,500 per acre. This would mean that the rent has skyrocketed from the previous TOL fees and water bills that cost only RM884, with an increase of almost 500 percent," they said.
"The Pahang government’s decision is like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs as the burden of farmers will be increased tremendously.
"In the short run, the Pahang government will be able to obtain its biggest gains from the farmers, yet the long-term repercussions to Cameron Highlands farmers as well as to the whole Cameron Highlands agricultural sector will be devastating," they added.
The agricultural sector in Cameron Highlands that produces vegetables and flowers would eventually be destroyed as a result, they claimed.
The agreement covers a total land size of 5,526,219 hectares.
When comparing it with the rent for agricultural land in other Pahang districts, namely RM24 (annual rent) per acre for oil palm estate and RM8 (annual rent) per acre for fruit farms, Tanah Rata State Assemblyperson Chiong said that Cameron Highlands’ agricultural land rent was exorbitant and could even be regarded as the highest rent for agricultural land in the country.
The representatives also argued that the three plus two years lease term is too short and could not provide a sufficient level of land security for the farmers.
Prior to the introduction of the lease, most Cameron Highlands farmers were only given TOLs that are effective for one year and had to be renewed annually at the District and Land Office.
"Although the three-year lease is a slight improvement, a short lease term could hardly provide assurance to farmers to continue farming and to adopt agricultural modernisation and transformation," they said.
They called on the state government to act swiftly and directly by implementing both short-term and long-term measures to support the agricultural sector which is still reeling from the effects of the movement control order (MCO). - Mkini
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