Illegal land clearing for cultivation in Cameron Highlands

Sultan of Pahang upset with illegal land clearing for cultivation in Cameron Highlands
By Nik Naizi Husin
Saturday May 29, 2010

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Illegal land clearing for cultivation has become a big problem in Cameron Highlands that it has prompted a call from the Sultan of Pahang himself.

Sultan Ahmad Shah Sultan Abu Bakar said he had received complaints and assured that the Government would take stern action against the culprits, especially those involved in the most recent case in Kampung Lemoi.

He gave assurance to the orang asli community living there that the issue would be looked into.

We are here for you: The Sultan talking to the orang asli during his visit to Kampung Manson.

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Twelve hectares of land on the orang asli settlement in Kampung Lemoi was found to have been illegally cleared and cultivated.

"I have told the district officer (Datuk Mohd Noor Abdul Rani) to do the necessary pertaining to this matter," the Sultan told the orang asli during his visit to Kampung Manson recently.

He said police would be called to assist, if the need arose, in taking actions against those responsible for the land clearing.

He said there were also some who were given approval by the Government to open up land for cultivation but due to greed, went beyond the total hectarage approved.

He warned that the temporary operating licences of these greedy individuals could be cancelled.

Sultan Ahmad Shah said there had to be proper control on land clearing and excessive development in Cameron Highlands.

"It is a tourist spot visited by people from all over the world, so we do not want the environment to be affected by the illegal land clearing.

"If the environment is not protected, this area will face problems in future, such as disrupted water supply," he said, while commending efforts taken by the relevant authorities to tackle the illegal activity.

"I would also like to thank television stations for highlighting this issue for the Government to take note," he added.

New Route to Cameron Highlands from Kuala Lipis to Bertam Valley

Earlier, the Sultan was briefed by Mohd Noor on the new road from Sungai Koyan (in Kuala Lipis) to Lembah Bertam (in Cameron Highlands).

The 79km route is scheduled for completion in August. Work is in progress on the final stretch of 11km.

Sultan Ahmad Shah said that once the road was completed, all buildings next to the road would be vacated.

"I am satisfied with the progress of this project. It is targetted to open by Aug 26," he added.

The new road will be the fourth access to Cameron Highlands, apart from the routes from Tapah, Simpang Pulai (both in Perak) and Gua Musang (Kelantan). -- The Star

Rafflesia used as traditional medicine unwise

Warning against 'jamu' using Rafflesia
24/5/2010

KUALA LUMPUR: Clinical tests on mice have shown that traditional medicine using the Rafflesia flower can have adverse effects on the liver and spleen, claims a Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia senior lecturer.

Dr Nazlina Ibrahim, of the university's School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, said Masters student Khairunnadwa Jemon's research found that the internal organs of white mice, which had delivered offspring and were given compounds of buds of the Rafflesia for 14 days, had become smaller.

She said traditional medicine using the flower were usually consumed by women who had just delivered to shrink their uterus and by men, supposedly for sexual strength.

Dr Nazlina said in an article in the university's news portal that the research by Khairunnadwa, under her supervision, found that the liver managed to detoxify ingredients from the buds of the Rafflesia azlanii.

"But this process also shrank the liver from its original size. The experiment thus confirmed the ability of the flower buds. But the risks to other vital organs being affected also exists, that is, the liver," said Dr Nazlina in the article.

Warning against 'jamu' using Rafflesia

She said woman who have been drinking water boiled with the buds of the Rafflesia for after-birth treatment needed to seriously consider the adverse and dangerous effects.

Dr Nazlina said the level of toxicity seen in the study should be a warning to people taking "jamu" using parts of the Rafflesia azlanii as a source of traditional medicine.

"If one wants to reduce weight, one should have a balanced diet and exercise. These are more effective and safe," she said.

The Rafflesia has for generations been used as an ingredient of traditional medicine, and the buds of the flower can be bought for between RM9 and RM25, depending on the size. - Bernama

Rafflesia Flower Kerrii Found

650ha of Rafflesia Kerrii clusters found in Kelantan
Wednesday May 19, 2010

KOTA BARU: A 650ha site with many clusters of Rafflesia Kerrii has been found in Lojing Highlands, about 260km south of Kelantan.

The area has a potential to be a world heritage site but is threatened by encroaching development from neighbouring Cameron Highlands.

The site was discovered by a Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) research team headed by its senior lecturer Zulhazman Hamzah in 2008.

UMK vice-chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Zainai Mohamed announ­ced the find at a two-day National Conference on Natural Resources here yesterday.

Dr Zainai said that with the discovery, the area could be developed for the agro-tourism industry, but it needed to be gazetted as a national and world treasure.

"Nowhere else in the world can we find clusters of such species and it should be gazetted as soon as possible to protect its natural habitat. Otherwise, development will destroy the area," he said.

He also said more research would be done on the area, including the economic spin-off, natural habitat and potential conservation.

Zulhazman said after a two-year study of the area, he concluded that it has a vast tourism potential.

"I discovered 26 spots using the Geographic Information System. I have plotted three different sites – Kampung Cedau, Kampung Kuala Rengi and Kampung Gedik.

"All the Rafflesias were located outside the Lojing Highlands forest reserve and therefore it is vulnerable to development unless they are protected," he said.

Rafflesia Kerrii is the second largest flower after Rafflesia Arnoldii.

He said serious efforts must be done to conserve the area that has no fewer than 260 pods scattered all over, adding that a working paper had been sent to the state government proposing that the area be gazetted but they have yet to receive any response. -- The Star

Cameron Highlands's farmers need foreign workers

MP: Cameron's farmers need foreign workers
Monday May 10, 2010

IPOH: The multi-million ringgit farming industry in Cameron Highlands is under threat due to the Government's ruling restricting the hiring of foreign workers, said Cameron Highlands MP Datuk S.K. Devamany.

Devamany, who is Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, said that unless an exemption was allowed for farmers there to hire foreign help, the highlands could very well lose its status as the country's main food provider and exporter.

He claimed that farmers in Cameron Highlands were now experiencing a shortage of nearly 2,000 workers with the Government's move to reduce the number of foreign workers from 2.5 million to 1.8 million.

"We welcome the policy as we cannot allow our country to be overrun with foreigners.

"But we cannot totally dismantle a policy as it can be disruptive to certain industries," he told reporters here yesterday, adding that the farming industry in Cameron Highlands catered to a niche market.

"It grows 40% of our vegetables, strawberries - which cannot be grown elsewhere in the country - tea and flowers for both the local and export markets.

"We do not want all these products to be brought into the country," he said, adding that this would then lead to more imports.

Devamany, who recently met 28 farmer associations in Cameron Highlands, said farmers there required some 6,000 workers at any one time.

He said the farms were also losing foreign workers to other countries like the Netherlands, Japan and Taiwan after having trained them in computer technology and agricultural expertise.

"To produce vegetables, flowers and tea in a temperate climate, we need people trained for a minimum of two years in fertigation, fertilisation and pesticide application," he added.

He also said local workers were not used to the living and working conditions in the highlands. -- The Star

Orang Asli free to practice any religion

Well, I certainly hope so. Because sources from the ground for the past many years says otherwise. Sometimes there were road blockades and stand-offs. This kind of things never get reported in mainstream news. We just keep it to ourselves, hush-hush and pray that something will be done.

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Freedom to practise any faith
Friday May 7, 2010

CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The orang asli in Pahang are free to choose the religion they wish to profess without fear and pressure.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said statistics showed there were 13,741 households among the orang asli communities in the state and 1,000 of them were Muslims.

He said 800 of them were Christians, 300 Bahais, 90 Buddhists, 10 Hindus and the rest professed other faiths.

"The Government has allocated RM5.374mil for the Orang Asli Civilisation Development (Petama) programme.

"The youths among the orang asli are the main focus as they are the catalyst in their community’s social and economic development," Adnan said in his speech to close the Petama 2010 four-day homestay programme held in several orang asli villages in Cameron Highlands district here recently.

His speech was read out by Cameron Highlands District officer Datuk Mohd Noor Abdul Rani.

Adnan said Petama aimed to help the orang asli give priority to their children’s education for a better future. -- The Star

Pahang Attracting More Tourist

Pahang to attract more tourists with better packages
By Roslina Mohamad
Wednesday May 5, 2010

KUANTAN: Pahang, which registered 10 million tourist arrivals last year, has targeted to attract 13.6 million tourists this year by offering better and suitable tour packages featuring the state's popular destinations and activities.

State Tourism, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Shafiq Fauzan Sharif said there were efforts to upgrade current packages and design new ones to meet the needs of individuals and families.

"It will be a complete package including food, lodging, activities and places to go and it will be a concerted effort by the state government and industry players," he told reporters after chairing a dialogue with members of the Malaysian Association of Hotels Pahang chapter here yesterday.

The packages, he said, would include the state's 10 best tourism icons - Cameron Highlands, Genting Highlands, Fraser's Hill, Kuala Gandah Elephant Conservation Centre, Kuala Lipis (historical and heritage town), Taman Negara, Tioman Island, Rompin (billfish sports fishing), Pekan (royal town) and Cherating (surfing paradise).

He also said Fraser's Hill was given a facelift recently costing RM24mil while RM500,000 had been set aside to develop Sungei Lembing, once dubbed the El Dorado of the East where the largest, longest and deepest subterranean mine in the world was once located. -- The Star

Our hill resorts need cleaning up

Our hill resorts need cleaning up
Wednesday April 14, 2010

I AM happy to read that there is a freeze on development in Fraser’s Hill.

I spent two days and one night there two weeks ago and came away feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. However, I noticed garbage on the way up the hill and also around Fraser’s.

Another thing I couldn’t help but notice was that some of the bungalows were dirty and rundown. There was also a resort there that looked utterly decrepit.

The English translation on some of the information provided for foreign tourists was atrocious, to say the least!

I have also been to Cameron Highlands and yes, garbage was everywhere too.

That draws me to the letter “Poor tourists are simply too dirty for comfort (The Star, April 13). As the writer points out in his letter, you don’t find rubbish in high class neighbourhoods in our country.

I stay in a new development area in Cheras and I see rubbish piled up everywhere. When I go to places like Tropicana and Damansara, for example, I find them so well kept. Why is this so?

IRENAWATI ZAINODDIN,
Cheras.

Fraser's Hill Development Halted

Pahang state exco rules out any new development in Fraser’s Hill
By Roslina Mohamad
Tuesday April 13, 2010

KUANTAN: No new land will be opened for development in Bukit Fraser, a popular highland resort in the state. The decision, made three weeks ago by the state executive council, is effective immediately.

Pahang Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the move was necessary to protect and preserve the natural setting of the highland, also known as "Little England".

However, the state government would still allow development that would add value to the current products, buildings or facilities, he added.

"We may entertain requests that will add value, such as a farm or hotel operators who plan to renovate or upgrade their premises," he told reporters after witnessing the signing of a memorandum of understanding at Bukit Gambang Resort here yesterday.

Old world charm: Fraser’s Hill’s clock tower, the town’s landmark is reminiscent of little village squares found in the English countryside.

The MoU, between Bukit Fraser Development Corporation (the state’s tourism agency) and 20 tourism-related associations, is aimed at fostering better ties and networking.

Adnan, citing many examples where over-development could spoil the environment, said the state government would not want the same thing to happen to Bukit Fraser.

"Only 10% of Bukit Fraser has been developed and the rest of the highland will remain untouched," he added.

On developments in Cameron Highlands, another popular highland resort in the state, Adnan said the situation was still under control.

Conceding that there was land encroachment, and noting the poor sanitary and waste disposal system, he said the state government was working to overcome the problems.

"We are doing something about it. We can still mitigate the destruction that has occured in Cameron Highlands. It is not that serious," Adnan said.

On the second access route to Bukit Fraser that has yet to be opened to the public due to road defects and ongoing repair work over the past 11 years, Adnan clarified that it was not abandoned.

The works department was in the midst of repairing the route, he added. -- The Star

Flower Show in Chelsea

Local flora set to bloom at the Chelsea Flower Show this May
By Sheila Stanley
Thursday April 1, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR: A tropical Malaysia-themed garden is set to bloom at the Chelsea Flower Show in London this May.

The 220-sq metre garden, designed by award-winning botanical design firm Amphibian Designs, is inspired by lush rainforest and traditional Malaysian village garden plants.

The main person behind all this is 28-year-old ethnobotanist James Wong, an up-and-coming television star in Britain, who co-founded Amphibian Designs with partner David Cubero.

"We’d like to pair traditional Malaysian materials like sustainable coconut wood and white limestone with native species like pitcher plants," he said while on a recent trip to Malaysia to film the BBC2 documentary special James Wong’s Malaysian Garden.

While in the country, Wong took the opportunity to scout around for local plants that would survive the more temperate English climate.

Floral pursuit: Wong posing with the Rose grape (medinilla magnifica) plant at the YG Park nursery in Cameron Highlands recently.

One of the places he visited was Cameron Highlands, where in YG Park nursery he came across the Rose grape (medinilla magnifica) plant and the elephant ear taro (alocasia macrorrhizos).

He also shopped for some cultural items to be included in the garden.

"I picked up a tepak sirih while in Kuching – I think it’ll lend a unique feel to the garden," he said.

Intended as a showcase to highlight Malaysian flora and natural habitats, the Malaysian garden in Chelsea is part of Tourism Malaysia’s ongoing promotion to sell Malaysian parks and gardens abroad.

Born to a Sarawakian-Chinese father and an English mother, Wong studied primarily in Singapore and moved to Britain for his university years.

He studied business in the beginning but realised his life’s passion was plants and decided to do ethnobotany.

He completed his MSc in Ethnobotany at the University of Bath and trained at the Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew.

His research resulted in him living in Ecuador for 18 months, learning how the Ecuadorians use their plants and picking up Spanish.

Wong ventured into television not because of the glamour but because he thought it would be the best way for him to do ethnobotany without spending the next seven years of his life "working towards a PhD in a remote part of the world and studying a subject that only the professors that marked my paper would ever read".

Wong has an infectious passion for plants and people, which doesn’t stop when the cameras stop rolling.

The Malaysian garden at the Chelsea Flower Show will be opened by Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

For an update on the garden, visit http://mygarden.rhs.org.uk/members/James-Wong.aspx
-- The Star

Blue Valley estate workers go three months without salaries

Estate workers go three months without salaries
Monday March 29, 2010

WORKERS at Blue Valley Tea Estate in Cameron Highlands have not been paid their salaries for the past three months, highlighted Tamil Nesan.

It quoted Blue Valley MIC branch chief S. Cheran as saying that the matter was brought to their attention and a report had been submitted to the Human Resources Ministry.

He said the workers received many benefits when the estate was managed by the National Land Finance Cooperative Society, but the benefits were reduced and salaries were paid late when it was sold to a private company.

Production of tea leaves had stopped temporarily and the workers were assigned to do outdoor work, he said, adding that the workers were also facing various health and housing problems. -- The Star Compilation

REACH Cameron Highlands

REACH-ing out
Saturday March 27, 2010

Cameron Highlands has been experiencing accelerated growth, especially over the past two decades that, while beneficial to the local economy, is threatening the area with environmental degradation.

Part of this can be attributed to poor planning and enforcement.

Landslides, silted rivers and dams, constant water disruptions and poor water quality have become common issues in this picturesque highland retreat.

Alarmed by the rapidly deteriorating environment, especially the declining water quality and deforestation, a group of Cameron Highlands residents decided to form Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands or REACH in 2001.


Giving Mother Nature a hand: REACH volunteers planting tree saplings to counter deforestation in Cameron Highlands

"It all began back in 2000 when laboratory testings confirmed the presence of E. coli, a bacterium that’s a health hazard, in our treated drinking water," says REACH president Ramakrishnan Ramasamy, 45.

"As there were farms located above the water catchment areas, we collected water samples and did further tests. We were shocked to find that not only did they show presence of animal faeces, there was human waste as well due to the lack of proper sanitation by farm workers!

"The authorities promised to shut down the 68 farms but till now, nothing much has been done. We have no problems with farming but we are concerned when the farms are located above the water catchment areas," he adds.

REACH reports that 97% of Earth’s water is salty or otherwise undrinkable and almost 3% is locked away in ice caps and glaciers or deep underground. It is estimated that only 0.003% is actually available for use. Mountain areas are the main sources for fresh water, and so must be protected.

REACH is also worried about recent findings that show the presence of DDT in the rivers, a synthetic pesticide for controlling malaria that is banned in most developed countries.

"As DDT is banned in Malaysia, we suspect that it is smuggled from neighbouring countries and mixed into local pesticides. It has a half-life of up to 100 years, which is very detrimental to the environment and our health in the long run. We will publish a full report when we have compiled more facts," says Ramakrishnan.

Besides highlighting the water issues in Cameron Highlands, REACH’s other two core concerns are reforestation and recycling.

"We are working with the foresty department, corporate companies and organisations on an on-going project to reforest a 17ha site at Hulu Bertam Forest Reserve, Gunung Brinchang.

"Planting endemic tree saplings ensures that the original biodiversity of the area is retained," explains Ramakrishnan.

Their recycling project has also gained momentum due to overwhelming response from the community.

"We have set up many collection centres all across town and we have a compactor site where recyclables are compacted to facilitate easier transportation to factories in Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur," reveals Ramakrishnan.

Many hotels and schools in Cameron Highlands are already involved in the programme, encouraging recycling via buy-back schemes and creating awareness through talks.

REACH published Wild Orchids Of Cameron Highlands last year, a coffeetable book featuring the 630 wild orchid species of Cameron Highlands.

"Our committee took eight years to work on this book. Plans are also afoot to set up a wild orchid sanctuary to house wild orchids confiscated from poachers," he says.

REACH is run by a group of volunteers with funds from membership, donations, small grants, reforestation activities and sales of souvenirs. Visit www.reach.org.my to become a volunteer or for more details.

Jim Thompson Thai Silk King

And yet another conspiracy story about Jim Thompson, the Thai Silk King. Nobody knows for sure what happened to him and probably never will considering that there is just isn't enough evidence about what transpired on that day. Still there will be people who just loves a good mystery and will come with a conspiracy theory of their own. And so we have another angle to the disappearance of Jim Thompson!

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Looking for the Silk King
By Foong Thim Leng
Tuesday March 23, 2010

New theories emerge about Jim Thompson's disappearance over 40 years ago.

IT has been 43 years since Thai Silk King Jim Thompson went missing in the jungles of Cameron Highlands but the hills are still buzzing with tales of what could have happened to him.

Some of the theories on Thompson's disappearance contain conspiracies fit for a spy movie, while others are too ludicrous to believe.

Recently, a mundane story came out of Cameron Highlands that Thompson's disappearance was a simple road accident.

"An alternative story says the culprit was driving a timber lorry and the body was disposed of at a sawmill," he said in an interview.

Rivers said he first heard of the intriguing Thompson case when he came to the highlands over 20 years ago.

"The story is so famous that in London alone, there are about 20 bars and restaurants serving Thai dishes and food from Asian countries named after Jim Thompson.

"Even the Strawberry Park Resort in Cameron Highlands has the Jim Thompson Terrace, a restaurant with a Jim Thompson hamburger as one of the items on its menu," he said.

Today, tourists are still queuing up daily to visit the Jim Thompson Thai House (Museum) in Rama Road 1, Bangkok, although many do not know that Cameron Highlands is in Malaysia.

Captain Philip J. Rivers at the verandah of Moonlight Cottage where Jim Thompson was last seen in 1967.

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As the story goes, Thompson had come to the highlands with his close Thai friend Mrs Connie Mangskau less than a week after his 61st birthday in 1967 to spend an Easter weekend with friends, Dr T.G. and Mrs Helen Ling of Singapore at their holiday bungalow, Moonlight Cottage, located above the golf course in Tanah Rata.

He and his friends attended church service on Easter Sunday which fell on March 26 that year and then had a picnic before returning to the bungalow. Thompson was last seen standing at the verandah. Despite a massive search that followed, he was never found.

Tales of his disappearance then spread like wildfire.

"Pundits pontificated that Thompson was a CIA agent embroiled in Thai politics, because of his wartime service in the OSS (Office of Strategic Services).

"He was also labelled a man of mystery, a soldier of fortune and even a spy, becoming a double agent working for the Chinese communists. Conversely, they whisked him away to settle the war in Vietnam or to revive the silk trade in China.

"His wartime service was exaggerated to turn him into a skilled jungle fighter who had been behind Japanese lines in Burma or directed the Thai underground.

"That is all nonsense," said Rivers who has carried out research on Thompson.

Rivers said the case attracted a host of practitioners of the occult arts, including mediums, clairvoyants, bomoh, soothsayers, astrologers and palmists.

One of them, Peter Hurkos, was a private investigator said to be a telepathy expert from Los Angeles, hired by the Thompson family.

His credentials were that he had assisted the police in search of the mysterious killer in the Boston Strangler case.

It was also said that he had crushed the scepticism of a non-believer in Boston by telling a young policeman correctly that he had been making love to his wife on the kitchen table a few hours ago.

His spiel was that Thompson had been drugged unconscious, abducted and flown off to Cambodia.

Jim Thompson pondering over one of his silk designs at a tropical garden in Bangkok in 1965.

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But when he was told that there was no landing strip, the story was amended to include an equally impossible boat ride to a neighbouring state for the plane trip.

Beside Hurkos, a swamp of mediums and mystic psychics swept through the jungle and came out with an assortment of sinister possibilities.

Retired Deputy Supt Ismail Hashim, 85, who was the OCPD in Cameron Highlands then, said he logged 118 such people but many others came later.

"They were of all races and nationalities and many had come all the way from Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia. Some even posted in their predictions.

"For days, the hills were alive with the sound of incantations, gongs and firecrackers to ward off evil spirits.

Strawberry Park Resort resident manager Lim Wai Ming said the story circulating in Ringlet was that on his death bed, an elderly farmer confessed to his family to ease his conscience that he had once knocked down and killed a European man and buried him in an unmarked grave.

However, the cliff-hanger was that he died before he could gasp out where the body was buried.

Long-time resident of the highlands Capt Philip J. Rivers said it was a credible story.

Rivers is a master mariner, lecturer in nautical studies, and a former insurance fraud investigator. He is also the author of the book, ‘1421' Voyages: Fact and Fantasy, published by the Perak Academy.

"In 1967, it was rumoured that a lorry had struck Thompson on the road but this was not reported to the police.

"It was said that the driver in his panic placed the body on to the back of his vehicle, drove off and buried the body in the outskirts of a vegetable patch.

"The stories were that Thompson was either eaten by a tiger, leopard or a wild boar, gulped down by a python or swallowed by quicksand.

"Others argued that the orang asli had accidentally killed him with a dart from a blow pipe, some said he had fallen into an animal trap," said Ismail.

He said a ridiculous tale featured Thompson in a cannibal feast but the most amusing of all was that a tribal "princess" kept him imprisoned as a "love slave".

Rivers said there were quarters who claimed that the police were slow in their investigations and had only done a "cosmetic search" for Thompson because of the conspiracy theories.

"From what I have learnt, the police had done a thorough search for Thompson, and Ismail had been on the scene immediately on the evening after receiving a report," said Rivers.

"Practically all police units, including the Special Branch, CID, Police Field Force, orang asli from Senoi Praaq and the Jubah teams had swept the jungle and the highlands during investigations.

"Experts on secret societies were also sent up to check whether Thompson could have been kidnapped. A woman inspector, Tan Ai Bee, was sent to stay with the women at Moonlight Cottage on the pretext of offering protection to determine whether Thompson's disappearance had something to do with domestic matters," said Rivers.

Others involved in the search included a British Military Police sergeant and a small detachment, convalescents from the British Military Hospital, local residents, missionaries, students from the American School, tourists and golfers, two Dayak Rangers with a tracker dog and two Danish friends of Thompson from Bangkok.

Even former adviser to the Malayan Aborigine Department, the famous Richard Noone, hired by the Thai Silk Company, failed to locate Thompson after a search with orang asli despite his extensive knowledge of Cameron Highlands both before the war and during the Emergency.

Noone's final observation was that "Mr Thompson was not in the jungle, dead or alive as he would certainly be found by now."

"The possibilities have narrowed to Thompson accidentally meeting his death and his remains lay undetected somewhere in the Cameron Highlands," said Rivers.

Rivers will be giving a talk entitled He Never Left The Hills – The Real Search For Jim Thompson, organised by the Perak Academy at Syuen Hotel, Ipoh, at 7.30pm on Friday. For reservations, contact 05-547 8949/016-551 8172. -- The Star.

Strawberry Farm in Genting Highlands

Strawberry lure at Genting
Story and photos by Nik Naizi Husin
Thursday February 25, 2010

Bentong: Genting Highlands has new attractions for the droves of tourists who visit its theme parks and casino. It is now also home to strawberry and orchid farms.

Genting Strawberry Leisure Farms chief executive K.C. Chung said his farm was conceptualised a year ago to diversify the tourism products in Genting Highlands.

“Cameron Highlands is famous for its strawberries and people travel there to visit its many big farms.

Getting ripe: Chung showing the unplucked strawberries at his farm in Genting Highlands recently.

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“Although our farm is just a little over 2ha, we optimised the use of space with the help of friends who are experts in farming besides my own experience.

“The local tourism industry can keep growing if the players are creative in coming up with new ideas,” he said.

Full blossoms: Genting Highlands in Pahang is not just known for its theme park and casino as it is attracting tourists to an orchid farm and a strawberry farm in its locality.

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He said that Genting Highlands appealed to visitors for its cool climate and theme park and now the strawberry farm as well.

“At my farm, visitors can pick strawberries, vegetables and mushrooms by themselves,” he said.

There are several types of mushrooms growing at the farm.

Chung said the farm was crowded during school holidays as admission was free.

For leisure: An attraction at the farm is this bamboo hut.

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Some 3km up the road leading to Awana Genting is an orchid farm.

It is a little hidden and many visitors are unaware of it, but orchid lovers have known about The World of Phalaenopsis for years.

Some 50 species thrive on the 0.4ha there.

It was established by Y.K. Yap, who started collecting and growing orchids as a hobby until he realised he had enough of them to start a small farm. -- The StarMetro

Optimum land use; The rows of the strawberry plants at the farm.

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Footnote: I think I saw their farm on the way down from First World Hotel. Maybe next time might give it a visit and look see. Something nearer to KL folks rather than travel so far to Cameron Highlands to see strawberry farm. Then again, Cameron Highlands is more soothing with all the greenery than Genting Highlands, eh? - Jan.

Vegetables to cost more during CNY

Shortage of supply may raise prices of greens
By Foong Thim Leng
Wednesday January 20, 2010

Cameron Highlands: Prices of vegetables with names that symbolise good tidings are expected to go up during Chinese New Year because of higher demand and lower supply.

Supply of the vegetables is expected to be lower because farms here were recently affected by bad weather, said Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association secretary-general Chay Ee Mong.

These include pak choy (cabbage – which gives the meaning of wealth), sang choy (lettuce – longevity), spring onions (chung – wisdom) and leeks (suan, which rhymes with "counting" in Mandarin).

Chay said demand for local vegetables would also increase as imports from China were expected to cost 30% more because heavy snowfall there resulted in poor harvests.

"We expect imports to be less as China has to feed its own population," he said in an interview.

Chay added that the price of leafy greens such as sawi from the highlands was affected by the big production of the vegetable from lowland farmers.

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Vege prices up, pork to cost more due to high demand and low supply

Chinese New Year reunion dinners and other festive meals are going to cost more as prices of popular festive vegetables and pork keep escalating.

Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association secretary-general Chay Ee Mong said prices of pak choy (cabbage), sang choy (lettuce) and suan (leeks) — vegetables that symbolise good tidings — are expected to increase by as much as 30% due to high demand and low supply.

Prices of live pigs have risen by 4% since last October, from RM730 per 100kg to RM760, and the price of pork from RM14 to RM22 per kg during the same period because of a reduction in porkers (adult pigs) by breeders due to disease and culling of old sows.

To stabilise the rising pork prices the Veterinary Services Department has stepped in to relax the import conditions for pork and pork-based products, while the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry will for the first time put pork under the price control list along with sugar and other essential items for Chinese New Year. -- The Star News.

Cameron Highlands Enviromental Issues

Cameron Highlands will always have environmental issues as long as there are "tidak apa" people in the government approving project without a care. Perhaps the lack of transparency in approving projects or some other undesirably elements (you know what I mean, the sad state of affairs in this country won't be solved overnight). Cameron Highlands will not be the only affected place, there are so many examples of gross neglect in preserving the environment in every part of Malaysia. Once this blows over, it will just be a footnote in the government. Sheesh...

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Stop project in Cameron
Tuesday January 12, 2010

GEORGE TOWN: The Kampung Tersusun (Melayu) Anggerik project in Cameron Highlands should be cancelled to prevent tragedies related to hill development.

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president S.M. Mohamed Idris said that although the authorities’ move to issue a stop work order was positive, they should in fact put an end to the project.

"The project should not have been approved by the authorities as it falls under Class 4 (above 35 degrees gradient) slopes.

"There should not be any form of physical development in this environmentally sensitive area," he said.

Mohamed Idris, who is also Consumers’ Association of Penang president, was commenting on The Star’s front page report headline, "Hillside hazard" which said phase one of Kampung Tersusun (Melayu) project had encroached into 'forbidden’ zones. The proposed settlement scheme fell on a hilly terrain within Mentigi Forest Reserve and Gunung Jasar.

Mohamed Idris said that in view of the grave danger and previous tragedies in highland areas, it was vital the proposed development be relocated to a safer location.

"The authorities should also take firm action to ensure that the developers undertake rehabilitation of the exposed slopes," he said in a statement. -- Star News

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Bureau urged to do own probe on environmental complaints
Wednesday January 13, 2010

PETALING JAYA: The Public Complaints Bureau's (PCB) over-reliance on feedback from government agencies that it is investigating can undermine its ability to resolve recurring problems of over-development in Cameron Highlands.

"I don't think the bureau is doing a thorough job. It is overly reliant on agencies against which complaints were levelled for clarification.

"It should be more proactive in handling complaints, like analysing all angles of mismanagement," said R. Ramakrishnan, the president of environmental watchdog Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (Reach).

He said that from his experience in handling environmental-related complaints filed with PCB, the bureau wrote to the agencies concerned for comments.

"For instance, the slopes on Gunung Jasar clearly fall into the category of environmentally-sensitive area, where no physical development is to be allowed, and this is noted in the Local Plan, a document prepared by the district council itself," he said in response to a Starprobe article on the proposed settlement scheme in Tanah Rata.

The scheme, Kampung Tersusun (Melayu) Anggerik, is to be undertaken by the chairman of the Desa Anggerik Development Committee and claimed on its signboard that it had obtained the work permit from the Land Office.

District officer Datuk Mohamad Noor Abdul Rani, who is in charge of the Land Office, however, has refused to comment on the matter.

Local residents have petitioned for the project to be relocated as the development could destabilise the steep hillside. -- Star News

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Contractor erred during earthworks
Thursday January 14, 2010

KUANTAN: The contractor who carried out earthworks in a settlement scheme that apparently encroached into a hilly terrain within the Mentigi Forest Reserve and Gunung Jasar did not put in place mitigation measures.

State Local Government, Envi­ronment and Health Committee chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said the contractor, who started earthworks on May 4, did not have measures such as a siltation pond, causing silt to flow into a nearby creek.

"A stop-work order was issued on May 8 last year and no work has been done since as the authorities are not satisfied with the contractor's mitigation steps," he said after a state exco meeting here yesterday.

The Star highlighted the adverse environmental effects following earthworks carried out for the Kampung Tersusun (Melayu) Ang­gerik project, which is a new settlement in Cameron Highlands.

Silt and uprooted old growth during land clearing had affected the creek's water quality while nearby residents had expressed concern over the site, described as an "environmentally sensitive area".

It was also reported that the project was undertaken by the Desa Anggerik Development Committee chairman and a building plan indicated that there would be 80 lots on a 13ha area.

Hoh said an application for a land clearing permit was submitted to the land and district office about three months earlier by Sabri Saad, a Desa Anggerik committee representative.

He said the Drainage and Irrigation Department had, in its feedback, stated that the DID had no objection to the application as the creek was small.

"A permit was issued on April 17 last year with various conditions and that the department would monitor the progress," Hoh said, adding that the stop-work order was issued following a complaint from the DID.

However, Hoh denied the scheme had encroached into the reserve, adding that it was actually located within a Malay reserve area gazetted on Nov 19, 1998.

He said the creek was also not feeding into Sungai Terla, which was the main source of water for Cameron Highlands, as the site was located downstream from the river and the temporary occupation licences were only for 76 individuals on an 8ha land.

Hoh said he would meet the district officer today.