Illegal Camerons farmland to be replanted with trees

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Land which has been illegally developed for farming in the Cameron Highlands will be cleared and then rehabilitated by planting trees.

National Security Council (NSC) secretary Datuk Mohamed Thajudeen Abdul Wahab said close monitoring would be conducted on land development in the Cameron Highlands to prevent further illegal land-clearing for farming.

"When this happens, problems arise as it (illegal land clearing) affects the environment and ecology, hence causing natural disaster like soil erosion," he told reporters during an operation, code-named Ops Gading, at the Blue Valley here Sunday.

A total of 300 personnel from 16 agencies, including the police, the Malaysian Armed forces, Immigration Department, Civil Defence Department, Rela and the Attorney-General's Chambers, were involved in the operation.

Mohamed Thajudeen said illegal land-clearing for farming did not only occur in the Blue Valley, but also in several other areas in Cameron Highlands.

Some 18 hectares of land in the Blue Valley had been illegally developed for farming, he said, adding that structures on 10 hectares of the land had been demolished.

"After the area has been cleared, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry will carry out works to improve the soil there by planting trees," he added.

The incident of mud floods and landslides in Kampung Raja, Ringlet town and Bertam Valley in the Cameron Highlands last Nov 5 resulted in the loss of five lives and more than 90 victims from 28 families to be evacuated to the Ringlet community hall. - Bernama