By Sylvia Looi
Friday July 16, 2010
A COMMITTEE will be set up to look into the land problem faced by Bertam Valley farmers, which recently sparked a tense standoff.
Tanah Rata assemblyman Ho Yip Kap said the Perak Government had instructed a committee to be formed by the district office to look into the problem faced by the farmers due to the construction of a 79km road linking Pos Beteau in Raub and Bertam Valley.
Getting to the heart of the problem: Chua (centre) discussing the farmers plight with Ho (left)and Cameron Highlands MCA division chief Datuk Yee Shan Kon.
“If more than 50% of the farm was taken over for the project, an alternative piece of land will be offered to them,” he told reporters after meeting Deputy Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Chua Tee Yong on Tuesday.
Ho said the farmers had also been told that they were barred from putting up permanent structures on the land.
“They are also only allowed to plant short term cash crops, which do not block motorists’ view,” he added.
On June 29, farmers used their vehicles to block the main road for three hours to stop enforcement officers from razing their farms to make way for the road project, causing a 2km traffic snarl.
Later, Chua, who was on a one-day visit, held a closed-door meeting with representatives of the farmers and accepted a memorandum on their problems.
Among the grouses highlighted during the 90-minute meeting were land issues, foreign workers and incentives for the agriculture sector.
In his opening address to the farmers, Chua said he wanted to obtain information directly from the affected farmers, adding that he was there to help them resolve their problems.
He said produce from Cameron Highlands was an important source of income for the country involving exports totalling RM505mil in vegetables, flowers and fruits. -- The Star News.
No comments:
Post a Comment