Cameron Highlands Land Clearing: It's An Inside Job, Claims DO

ILLEGAL: State land being cleared at Mensun Valley near Brinchang. Pix: The StarKUANTAN: The authorities are finding it hard to catch the people involved in clearing land illegally in Cameron Highlands because district office personnel are in cahoots with the culprits.

Ahmad said his officers had been monitoring land clearing and had conducted raids "whenever we receive reliable information" of such activity.

"However, we suspect someone from within is leaking information to the culprits, resulting in unsuccessful raids.

What made him all the more suspicious was that the culprits had "retrieved" four of the nine items of heavy machinery seized during a raid when no one was guarding the site.

"I will need to clean up my house in order before launching a full scale operation to nab those involved," he added.

Ahmad was responding to The Star's front page report yesterday that land was being cleared rampantly in forest reserve areas in the Cameron Highlands, causing concern to residents.

Ahmad said he would organise a brainstorming session to come up with solutions to address the matter conclusively.

He said it was difficult to keep tabs on illegal activity because the culprits were believed to be carrying out their work at night and during weekends.

"It is not easy to just go in and nab them as we need to trek deep into the jungle," he said.

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Cameron Highlands Land Clearing: It's An Inside Job, Claims DO