Mini Command Centre To Tackle Illegal Land Clearing In Cameron Highlands

GUA MUSANG, Aug 5 (Bernama) -- A mini command centre will be created early next month to combat increasingly rampant illegal opening of land in Cameron Highlands and its surrounding areas, said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel.

He said the aim of the centre was to map out strategies and gather information on illegal encroachment on land in the area.

He said the centre would involve representatives from numerous agencies such as the Department of Environment, Drainage and Irrigation Department, Forestry Department and the Cameron Highlands District and Land Office.

"Whatever information from the command centre would be reported to the ministry weekly after the post-Cabinet meeting," he told reporters after checking on an illegal land clearing site at Gunung Yong Belar, Lojing near here Tuesday.

Gunung Yong Belar, which is located eight kilometres from Kampung Raja, Cameron Highlands, can only be reached using four-wheel drive vehicles.

"Illegal opening of land is becoming a very serious issue here, it must be stopped immediately but action must be taken with care.

"We cannot arrest people indiscriminately as we have to conform to the provisions of the law. We must have firm proof before taking any action," he said.

He said illegal land encroachment must be tackled in a determined manner to protect highland areas which would otherwise impact negatively on the environment.

Palanivel said Temporary Occupation Licences (TOL) would be given out to those who opened farms illegally to check the activity (from spreading).

"We cannot chase them (the culprits) out, we must maintain the area which have been encroached and turned into agriculture farms by giving them TOL," he said.

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Mini Command Centre To Tackle Illegal Land Clearing In Cameron Highlands