IPOH, July 8 — National Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel yesterday viewed the site of alleged illegal land clearing in Cameron Highlands, in response to a complaint from local farmers.

Farmers at the border of Kampung Raja and Blue Valley had complained to Palanivel in March and alerted him again last week when clearing resumed.

“Although it is government land, farmers could apply for a temporary occupation licence (TOL),” Palanivel said.

“Open burning and illegal farming cannot be controlled and will ruin the environment.”

Present with Palanivel was Cameron Highlands district officer Datuk A. Rahman.

“The illegal farmers were somehow alerted and escaped before we could apprehend them.

“Their warning was so good that we were also unable to confiscate their machinery,” Rahman said.

“The solution would be for local residents to cooperate closely with the authorities to provide early alerts,” he added.

For the short term, Palanivel said replanting on the hill slopes could start as early as August.

For the longer term, he proposed that patrols be carried out by enforcement agencies such as Rela or the police.

“This is a proposal and I will discuss it with Defence Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on this possibility.”

The spokesman for the group, Chong Chan Kong, 29, said if the land clearing was not stopped, it would destroy their water catchment area, which supplied water to 122 farms.

He said the farms employed 800 workers.

The land clearing in March began with open burning of the forest.

However, following the complaint, the activity stopped.

“Last Friday, however, we saw machinery in the area again, so we alerted the local authorities and Palanivel,” said Chong.

The site of concern is on the Simpang Pulai to Gua Musang road.

The burnt trees on the hill slope can be seen from the roadside.

A walk up an adjoining hill revealed the land behind the hill had been cleared.

A signboard atop the burnt hill warns passers-by that it is government land.

“It was put there in March after the open burning. However, last week the illegal farmers again brought in their machinery,” said Chong.