Seven farmers arrested during Cameron Highlands enforcement standoff

Farmers and authorities standoff during Cameron Highlands enforcement operations

IPOH: Seven farmers in Cameron Highlands were arrested after a standoff with authorities who had gone in to demolish illegal vegetable farms.

Cameron Highlands OCPD Deputy Supt Ashari Abu Samah said under “Ops Lestari”, the authorities had gone in to demolish a total of 97.12ha (240 acres) of farms involving 60 owners at Sg Ichat in Kuala Terla.

“At about 10.30am, some 200 people had gathered at the Ipoh-Kuala Terla road, with intention to get into the operation site, causing a terrible traffic jam.

“The police had warned the group several times to disperse, but they failed to do so, and in the end seven people were arrested,” he said.

Following a visit by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in September, the National Security Council decided to initiate Ops Lestari by placing Armed Forces and General Operations Force personnel in Cameron Highlands to tackle the problem.

Subsequently, the Cameron Highlands Rehabilitation Joint Action Committee chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister and Pahang Mentri Besar agreed to continue Ops Lestari 2 and mobilise security forces beginning Dec 16.

DSP Ashari added that the operation ended at 5pm, and the situation has been under control.

The operation was carried out by the Land and District Office, with assistance from the council, and other government agencies.