Illegal farmland in Cameron Highlands to be planted with trees

Land which has been illegally developed for farming in the Cameron Highlands will be cleared and then rehabilitated with tree planting.

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 today.

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

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