Malaysia: Protect our water source, Cameron Highlands farmers urge Government

Isabelle Lai The Star 1 Feb 13;

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Over 100 farmers in the Kampung Raja-Sungai Ikan area have banded together to protest land clearing plans in the area which they feel could jeopardise a vital water catchment area.

Kampung Raja village head Yong Leong Meng said such an occurrence would spell disaster for over 50 farms and thousands of people who were depending on it for irrigation and household purposes.

“We request that the Government stop the land clearing and protect our water source.

“We don’t want action to be taken only after something has happened and it is too late”, he said after the farmers raised banners and placards in protest against the planned development at Taman Desa Corina.

Yong said he lodged a police report on Jan 22 at the Kampung Raja police station, accompanied by 30 other residents and met District Officer Datuk Ahmad Daud on Jan 8 and yesterday.

Kampung Raja Water Catchment Protection Association president Chong ChanKong said land clearing in such a vital area could result in disastrous water pollution.

He added that not only could soil flood into and contaminate the dam, but it could also result in water supply to farms in the vicinity being cut off.

“We need trees and plants to ensure a good water catchment area.

“We can’t have them being cleared. Even if a legal permit has been granted, the developer must take into account the community’s needs and environmental impact. This could affect the local school as well as temple,” he said.

Ahmad confirmed meeting Yong but said that there were no problems with the water catchment area yet.

“If we receive any reports of the water catchment area being damaged, we will investigate and might revoke the licence,” he said.

Cameron Highlands MP Datuk S.K. Devamany said he did not see why the development should be carried out in the area as it was close to the main road as well as river reserve.

“There is a big bridge there, the only way into Taman Desa Corina. There are a few thousand people living there and the construction will be very dangerous to the movement of vehicles,” he said.

Meanwhile, water woes still continue for farmers at the 49th mile, whose water catchment area was damaged months ago by another farmer conducting illegal clearing in the area.

Farmer V. Selvadurai said the same farmer had begun the clearing work once more, completely des­troying the remains of the water catchment area.

'Don't blame land clearing'
New Straits Times 1 Feb 13;

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The Cameron Highlands Land and District Office has set up a committee to advise some 60 vegetable farmers in Sungai Ikan, Kampung Raja, on the importance of practising proper agricultural activities.

Its district officer, Datuk Ahmad Daud, said at present, the farmers were carrying out their activities without proper control, which led to pollution of a river in the area.

"They have no control. They just dump fertiliser and pesticide wastes on the ground. When it rains, the wastes will flow into the nearby river, causing pollution," he said when met at his office yesterday.

Ahmad was commenting on claims by some farmers that land clearing activities by a farmer had caused pollution to a water-catchment pond in the area.

He said the farmers would be called in groups by the committee soon.

He also said his office was monitoring the land clearing activities.

Ahmad said the farmer concerned had not violated any of the conditions set by his office.

"The other farmers have requested the Land and District Office to issue a stop-work order on the land clearing activities.

"But this is unfair as the operator, who is conducting the land clearing, has not done anything which is against the regulations.

"However, I have given my contact number to the farmers. They can call me if the operator breaks any regulation and necessary action will be taken."

Farmers' representative Chong Nam Hong had claimed that the land clearing activities had polluted the water-catchment pond in the area and demanded the activities to be stopped.

The farmers also staged a peaceful protest near the water-catchment area yesterday to voice out their concern.