After almost a
year since large-scale actions executed by the various enforcement agencies led
by the National Security Council, in demolishing illegal farms in Cameron
Highlands.
“I am sure they
have learned their lesson. One year is too long (of not being able to work on
the land that are supposed to bring steady income) for the small farmers. Now,
it is our responsibility to ensure that they can continue (with) their living,”
says the Menteri Besar.
ADMIRING THE GIMMICK... Dato' Sri DiRaja Adnan is seen here officiating the conference. Also seen are (from left to right) Dato' Mohd Paiz, Dato' Sri Muhammad Safian, and, Dato' Sri Abdul Rahman.
COPTHORNE HOTEL,
BRINCHANG, CAMERON HIGHLANDS – After almost a year of not being able
to farm due to the large scale Ops Gading exercise by the National Security Council
(NSC)-led of the various enforcement agencies in demolishing illegal farms in
this highland;
Menteri
Besar Dato’ Sri DiRaja Adnan Yaakob believe that, small-scale farmers in
particular – numbering about 1,000 people; have already learned their lesson
hence should now be helped in getting to resume their work.
“I am sure they
have learned their lesson. One year is too long (of not being able to work on
the land that are supposed to bring steady income and livelihood) for the small
farmers.
“Now, it is our
responsibility to ensure that they can continue (with) their living,” said the
Menteri Besar at a media conference after officiating the 35th
Conference of States’ Forestry Director held here on Tuesday evening, Dec 1.
“So tomorrow
(Wednesday, December 2), we are having the Exco (the State’s Executive Council)
meeting with the view to helping all these small farmers,” Dato’ Sri DiRaja
Adnan assured.
DELIVERING HIS 25-MINUTE OFF-THE-CUFF SPEECH...
‘HAVE SUFFERED
ENOUGH, HAVE LEARNED ENOUGH’
“They have
already suffered enough, they have learned enough. It is now the responsibility
of the State Government to look after the affairs of these small farmers,” he insisted.
‘Do
you think they will be more responsible this time than before?’ asked a
reporter from one Kuala Lumpur-based news portal.
“Hopefully so,” replied the
Menteri Besar and warned that; “Otherwise,
another Ops Gading will come. I don’t rule out (that) there will be the second
Ops Gading. Ops Gading 1, Ops Gading 2”.
He
also told the media conference that, he has conveyed to the Prime Minister Dato’
Sri Mohd Najib Abdul Razak, on the need to look after the small-scale farmers now
that ‘big time farmers’ have stopped and ran away ever since Ops Gading
started.
Dato’
Sri DiRaja Adnan then brushed aside claims made by certain quarters that the
power to approve land application in the highland has since lies with the NSC
rather than the State Government.
DI MEJA MAKAN UTAMA...
KERAJAAN NEGERI
BERI KERJASAMA PENUH
The
State Government he stressed, is still vested with the power to make such
approval whereas the NSC is tasked with helping the State Government to rid of illegal
farming in this highland.
“They (NSC) are helping
us to control illegal farming. But re-issuing (of) the permit whatever, (still)
lies with the State Government and we want to help the farmers. It is our
responsibility to help the farmers,” he firmly stated.
Ketika
menjawab soalan wartawan TV Al-Hijrah pula katanya, Kerajaan Negeri memang
sentiasa memberi kerjasama penuh kepada agensi-agensi penguatkuasaan di bawah
Kerajaan Persekutuan dalam melancarkan kerja-kerja penjagaan alam sekitar Cameron
Highlands.
Jika
di bawah bidang kuasa Kerajaan Negeri ialah misalnya mengenai tanah dan hutan
katanya, yang di bawah bidang kuasa Kerajaan Persekutuan ialah agensi-agensi
penguatkuasa dan keselamatan seperti Polisa DiRaja Malaysia (PDRM) dan Angkatan
Tentera Malaysia (ATM) yang perlu ada kerjasama antara kedua-duanya.
“Kerajaan Negeri
sahaja, tak boleh jalan. Kerajaan Persekutuan kena bantu. Kita komited
sepenuhnya. Kita akan berikan kerjasama kepada kesemua jabatan kerajaan tapi
kerjasama ini, komitmen ini, mesti tanpa prasangka.
BEFORE THE MEDIA CONFERENCE STARTS...
FINGER POINTING
NOW AT THE NSC
“Ini belum
apa-apa hal lagi, ‘Ha rasuah, Pejabat Tanah (dan Daerah). Ha rasuah sana,
rasuah sini,”
katanya sambil menyarankan agar pihak media turut meneliti apa yang
diperkatakan oleh seorang pemimpin sebuah pertubuhan bukan Kerajaan (NGO) alam
sekitar hari ini.
“He is (now) pointing
fingers at the National Security Council’s people, you know… He’s making some
allegations towards the enforcement agencies,” he said.
“Dulu, mula-mula
ingat, Menteri Besar, Kerajaan Negeri, (Ahli-Ahli) Exco (Kerajaan Negeri), DO (Pegawai
Daerah) (yang) ambil rasuah. Kita tak makanlah duit orang susah ni.
“No, no, no. They
(the farmers have) slogged it out… sampai hati ke nak makan duit dia orang,” tegasnya.
On
the ongoing replanting exercises undertaken the Forestry Department, Dato’ Sri DiRaja
Adnan commended the department’s effort considering the damage done on this highland
was so massive.
SS AND EXCO
MEMBERS AMONG THE ATTENDEES
Apart
from the State’s Secretary, Dato’ Sri Muhammad Safian Ismail and members of the
State’s Excos – Dato’ Sri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, Dato’ Shafik Fauzan Sharif,
Dato’ Norol Azali Sulaiman, and, Dato’ Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad;
Also
present at this Tuesday’s evening function are the Director General of Forestry
Department Peninsular Malaysia, Dato’ Sri Abd Rahman Abd Rahim; State’s
Financial Officer, Dato’ Dzulki-fly Osman; Cameron Highlands District Officer, Dato’
A.Rahman Hamzah; and, Director of State’s Forestry Department, Dato’ Mohd Paiz
Kamaruzaman. – Khabar
