PSM Cameron Highlands: 2012

PSM: Why charge hillslope residents? - FZ.com

First Published: 4:07pm, Dec 20, 2012
Last Updated: 4:07pm, Dec 20, 2012
Nation
by Stephanie Sta Maria
fz.com/Stephanie Sta Maria

PSM S. Arutchelvan (R) is baffled why the AG interferes in a private case against land development.

KUALA LUMPUR: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) and residents of the Green Cow area in Cameron Highlands are baffled over the contradictory stands taken by the authorities on land development works on the hillslope.

PSM Cameron Highlands branch secretary B Suresh Kumar said that although the residents had obtained a court injunction to stop the developer from carrying out soil movement works in the area, the attorney-general (AG) remains intent on pursuing criminal charges against three of them.

"The Kuantan High Court has delivered us justice," he told a press conference at the PSM headquarters today. "But the AG, district land office and police have continued to stand against us."

The Green Cow residents lodged a police report against LTT Development in September 2011 over fears that their homes and lives were in danger following bulldozing works by the developer to carry out a commercial shop lot project.

In May this year, the residents set up camp in the developer's area, prompting the developer to obtain an ex parte injunction to stop them from trespassing.

Three months ago, two Green Cow residents were charged by the authorities at the Cameron Highlands Magistrate's Court for obstructing the developer's lorries. Their case will be heard on Jan 29 next year.

On Dec 11, the Kuantan High Court set aside LTT Development's ex parte and inter parte injunctions to stop the residents from trespassing on the land.

The court also awarded an injunction to Green Cow residents to stop LTT Development from carrying out soil movement works near their homes.

This is the second court victory for the residents with the first being on July 30, when the Cameron Highlands Magistrate's Court cleared Suresh and two other residents from charges of wrongful restraint.

The AG however appealed the case in the Termerloh High Court in August. The appeal will be heard on Feb 22 next year.

PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan, who was also present at today's press conference, questioned why the AG is interfering in a case that could easily be pursued by a private company.

"These people are fighting to save their lives and their homes," he said. "This isn't a blind fight for the environment but started when a rock fall occurred in the area."

According to Arutchelvan, even the district land office is uncooperative in its insistence that all documents related to the development are confidential.

"The developers have even sent gangsters who pointed guns at the resident but the police will only conduct investigations if we have the make and model of the guns," he said.

PSM and the Green Cow residents are also wondering if MIC President Datuk G Palanivel has any intention of honouring his promise to provide them alternate land for relocation.

"Palanivel visited the area in July and promised to give the Green Cow residents another piece of land," Suresh claimed.

"His aide even took some of the residents to the allocated land which is a forest area. That was the last we heard from him."

Suresh said that they have sent two letters to Palanivel but received no response.

Arutchelvan meanwhile claimed that Palanivel had made that promise because he knew that the land area was unsafe.

When asked if Cameron Highlands MP Datuk K Devamany was playing a role in the issue, Arutchelvan replied that Devamany had written a letter to Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaacob, seeking a resolution but there had been no feedback.

In July, Palanivel issued a statement saying that the woes of the Green Cow residents had been resolved as Adnan had agreed to allocate a piece of land for each of the affected families to rebuild their homes.

‘Green Cow’ battle comes to a head - The Sun

Posted on 24 December 2012 - 05:30am
Elly Fazaniza

newsdesk@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 24, 2012): The land battle between 'Green Cow' farmers in Cameron Highlands and a developer continues to escalate with two resident farmers ordered to present themselves for a hearing against LTT Developers on Jan 29 next year.
On Thursday, the duo's lawyer Collin Arvind Andrew told theSun that S. Ravidran, 28, and S. Marapan, 43, had been accused of obstructing the developer's bulldozers from carrying out construction work in July.
"They have been charged under section 341 of the Penal Code for wrongful restraint. The hearing will be at the Cameron Highlands magistrate's court," he said.
He added that in February, a Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) member and two more residents will also appear before the High Court in Temerloh, Pahang.
He said that PSM member B. Suresh, with S. Nagarajan and S. Tanabalan, have been ordered to appear on Feb 22.
"On July 30, they had also stopped some bulldozers. As no prima facie case had been presented, the accused had been acquitted," Andrew said.
The attorney-general subsequently filed an appeal to the High Court to overturn the decision. Suresh has been charged under the Penal Code, section 341, which carries a maximum punishment of one month imprisonment, or fine up to RM1,000 or both.
Meanwhile, Nagarajan and Tanabalan are charged under section 506 of the Penal Code, which carries a maximum punishment of two years' imprisonment or fine, or both, he said.
PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan reiterated the party's call for the attorney-general to drop all charges against the residents as they were merely protecting their homes.

Significant win for Green Cow residents - FMT

K Pragalath | December 21, 2012

Kuantan High Court grants them an injunction against developer bent on bulldozing a project through in Cameron Highlands

PETALING JAYA: The Kuantan High Court’s decision to grant an injunction against a developer is a significant victory for the people of Cameron Highlands, said PSM.
Green Cow residents, with the help of PSM, successfully obtained an injunction to stop the developer LTT Developers Sdn Bhd from carrying out soil movement works near their homes.
High Court Judge Mariana Yahya also set aside LTT’s ex parte and inter parte injunctions to stop the residents from encroaching or dwelling on the land located in Ulu Telom.
Cameron Highlands PSM secretary B Suresh Kumar described the decision by judge Mariana as a major victory for the people.
“The decision proves that there is a real danger posed by LTT Developers Sdn Bhd,” said Suresh.
Initially eight families had filed the case but five withdew.
In July this year Cameron Highlands magistrate Nik Habri Muhamad acknowledged the danger posed by the developer on the residents who are living at the foot of the hills.
Following that LTT obtained injunctions against eight residents, prohibiting their families from entering the land earmarked for the construction of four storey shoplots.
The residents’ lawyer, Yudistra Darma Dorai, in his submission, also filed an affidavit from an independent civil engineer on the risks involved in the developer’s work.
The engineer, M Saravanan, who has 17 years of experience, said there was a danger of landslides, rock falls and landslips which will endanger the lives of the neighbouring residents.
Yudistra’s fellow counsel, Noorima Fairuz, told FMT that the case would now be heard at a full trial, the date to be fixed by Mariana.
Meanwhile, Suresh said that he hoped that the state government would keep to its promise to relocate and compensate the residents.
“We are asking for RM100,000 for each of the three families. That amount would enable them to build a house,” he said.

Several Cameron Highlands' residents obtain injunction to stop developer - The Star Online

From The Star
Published: Tuesday December 11, 2012 MYT 7:11:00 PM

By ONG HAN SEAN

KUANTAN: Several Cameron Highlands residents have successfully obtained an injunction to stop a developer from carrying out soil movement works near their homes. Their lawyer Yudistra Darma Dorai said High Court judge Justice Mariana Yahya had also set aside the plaintiff LTT Development's ex parte and inter parte injunctions to stop the residents from encroaching or dwelling on the land located in Ulu Telom, Cameron Highlands.

"The judge granted our application for an injunction to have LTT Development cease all work involving soil movement near the residents' area. Our argument is that we have got an expert affirmed in an affidavit that there are risks of landslide, rock fall and landslip from the work being carried out which will endanger the lives of the neighbouring residents," Yudistra said on Tuesday.
In September last year, the Green Cow residents lodged a police report against LTT Development, fearing that their homes were in danger of being hit by a landslide due to bulldozing works by the developer.
In May this year, the residents set up camp in the developer's area to prevent them from carrying out the commercial shoplot project.
LTT Development subsequently obtained an ex parte injunction to stop the residents from trespassing into the disputed land.

Following that, the residents and political activist B. Suresh Kumar put in an application to set aside the ex parte injunction and to get their own injunction against LTT Development.
They also agreed not to enter the land temporarily after setting up camp for more than 100 days.
Suresh Kumar said ultimately, they hope LTT Development would negotiate with them on compensations to relocate.
"We are asking the government to provide the land and the developer to compensate us so we can build new houses," he said.
Meanwhile, LTT Development's lawyer T. Gunaseelan said his client could still carry out work provided it was not done near the residents' area.

KENYATAAN POTONG TELINGA & TERJUN DALAM SG PAHANG: BUKAN SATU PERKARA BARU UNTUK MB PAHANG BERJANJI DAN KEMUDIAN MUNGKIR JANJI

Gambar dr Malaysiakini

KENYATAAN AKHBAR

1 DISEMBER 2012

Kami di PSM Cameron berpendapat kenyataan MB Pahang, Dato Sri Adnan Yaakob bahawa beliau akan potong telinga dan terjun ke dalam Sg Pahang jika BN kalah di Bentong bukanlah satu perkara baru. Beliau pernah sebelum ini memberi janji-janji kosong kepada rakyat.

Inilah MB Pahang yang prinsipnya tidak selaras dengan laungan Perdana Menteri: JANJI DITEPATI. Berikut ialah 2 contoh berkenaan janji palsu kepada penduduk Cameron Highlands berkenaan masalah tanah, rumah & gerai mereka.

Dato Sri Adnan Yaakob berjanji pada 9/4/2012 di Annex Resort, Kuantan; di hadapan 30 penduduk Cameron bahawa beliau akan melawat setiap satu masalah penduduk Cameron dalam masa 2 minggu dan kemudian menyelesaikannya. Kini sudah 8 bulan berlalu tetapi tidak nampak batang hidungnya.

Memberi kenyataan akhbar pada 18/7/2012 bahawa penduduk Green Cow, Cameron Highlands telah diberikan tanah ganti untuk mendirikan rumah. Tetapi sehingga hari ini, penduduk Green Cow masih menetap di tempat yang sama & mengalami ancaman tanah runtuh akibat projek komersil. Turut bersama MB Pahang memberikan janji kosong ialah Presiden MIC, Dato Palanivel.

Daripada pengalaman PSM Cameron, tidak mustahil untuk MB Pahang berjanji membuat sesuatu dan kemudian mungkir janji. Beliau pernah berbuat begitu, jadi kenapakah beliau tidak boleh mengulanginya?

Disediakan oleh:

Suresh Kumar

Setiausaha

PSM Cameron

019-569 6964

Lebih 100 Orang Asal Berkumpul di IPD Cameron Membuat Laporan Polis

22 November 2012

Pada hari ini, seramai 100 Orang Asal (OA) telah berkumpul di IPD Cameron Highlands, Brinchang untuk membuat laporan polis berkenaan masalah yang sedang dihadapi oleh mereka. Laporan polis telah dibuat oleh 10 orang wakil OA.

Kesemua kampung OA sebelum ini telah bersama menubuhkan 'Jaringan Tanah & Wilayah Adat OA Cameron Highlands (JARICH)' untuk memperjuangan hak mereka. Ini adalah kali pertama OA di Cameron Highlands keluar membuat laporan polis beramai-ramai untuk mempertahankan hak mereka.

SYABAS diucapkan kepada OA di Cameron yang kini sudah berani menyuarakan masalah mereka. PSM Cameron akan sentiasa bersama menyokong OA menyuarakan dan mempertahankan hak mereka. Berikut ialah isi kandungan laporan mereka:

Saya mewakili Jaringan Tanah & Wilayah Adat Orang Asal Cameron Highlands (JARICH) ingin membuat aduan polis berkenaan masalah OA di Cameron Highlands yang kini mengancam nyawa & kehidupan kami.

Saya dilahirkan & dibesarkan di kampung OA. Ibu bapa dan nenek moyang saya juga telah mendiami kawasan lembah Sungai Bertam / Telom / Terisu sejak zaman sebelum British.

Pada asalnya tanah adat di kampung kami adalah di bawah pentadbiran masyarakat Orang Asli tempatan secara adat. Kami bercucuk tanam, memburu, mengumpul hasil hutan, dan menjalankan berbagai-bagai aktiviti yang lain di atas tanah adat kami. Kehidupan kami adalah sangat bergantung pada tanah.

Lebih kurang pada tahun 2010, kami telah mendapati bahawa mungkin sebahagian tanah adat kami akan dibangunkan di bawah projek Empangan Hulu Jelai iaitu satu projek Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB). Kami tidak tahu dan tidak diberi apa-apa maklumat tentang sejauh mana tanah adat kami akan diambil kerana projek empangan. Pertanyanyaan telah dibuat melalui Jabatan Kemajuan Orang Asli tetapi tiada maklum balas secara pasti yang di beri.

Walau bagaimanapun, pada tahun 2011 kerja tanah telah bermula di tanah adat kami. Akibatnya, pokok-pokok tanaman kami dan juga pokok semulajadi telah ditebang. Kami tidak setuju dengan perbuatan tersebut.

Masalah yang kami hadapi ialah:

Struktur-struktur seperti bangunan, pencawang dll dibina di atas kawasan kubur nenek moyang kami oleh TNB atau Salini Malaysia Sdn Bhd tanpa kebenaran dari kami. Kawasan ini adalah kawasan bersejarah dan berusia beratusan tahun. Kawasan ini tidak patut dicerobohi.
Seramai lebih kurang 2000 penduduk dari Kg Teji, Kg Renglas, Kg Pinang, Kg Relong, Kg Terakit & Kg Rening tidak tahu samada perlu berpindah atau tidak akibat pembinaan Empangan Ulu Jelai. Walaupun mereka telah bertanyakan perkara ini beberapa kali kepada pegawai TNB, tiada jawapan yang konkrit diberikan. Mengikut laporan EIA, kampung OA terancam akibat pembinaan Empangan Ulu Jelai. Kenapakah TNB harus berahsia mengenai isu ini?
Sungai-sungai di kawasan ini tercemar dengan tanah mendapan (silt) akibat projek Empangan Ulu Jelai. Sungai-sungai ini merupakan punca air utama untuk penduduk OA di kawasan ini.
Pembinaan terowong air di dalam projek Empangan Ulu Jelai mungkin akan menyebabkan pembanjiran di beberapa kampung di mana terowong ini berakhir. Penjelasan mengenai perkara ini telah ditanya kepada pegawai TNB. Walaupun pegawai TNB menafi akan berlakunya banjir akibat pembinaan terowong, namun TNB tidak mahu memberikan jaminan ini secara bertulis.
Tanah adat & kampung OA dirampas utk pembinaan Menara Kabel Voltan Tinggi. Tanah adat milik turun-temurun diceroboh oleh TNB dan kontraktor untuk pembinaan menara tanpa kebenaran OA.
Kebun baru dibuka di atas tanah adat OA oleh individu/syarikat tanpa kebenaran. Aduan lisan kepada Pejabat Tanah & Daerah Cameron Highlands (PTDCH) tidak diendah dan tiada tindakan diambil. Walaupun Kerajaan Pahang telah menghalang pembukaan tanah pertanian yang baru di Cameron sejak tahun 2002, namun kebun baru seperti ini masih terus dibuka dengan membersihkan tanah adat OA yang terdiri dari hutan. Di Kg Terisu, OA tidak tahu bagaimana pampasan dibayar kepada mereka akibat pengambilan wilayah adat mereka untuk pertanian oleh pihak lain.
Lesen pembalakan diberi tanpa terkawal menyebabkan banyak tanah & wilayah adat OA diceroboh dan hutan ditebang.
Kemudahan titi tiada atau usang di beberapa kampung menyebabkan kesukaran penduduk berulang-alik (juga pelajar sekolah). Walaupun perkara ini telah dimaklumkan kepada Pejabat Daerah Cameron & Jab Kemajuan OA, namun tiada tindakan diambil.
Pencemaran udara dengan habuk akibat projek pembinaan Empangan Ulu. Masalah ini ketara semasa ketiadaan hujan.
OA hilang pendapatan akibat tidak dapat mengambil hasil hutan. Wilayah adat OA yang terdiri dari hutan telah diambil oleh kerana aktiviti seperti pembinaan Empangan Ulu Jelai, pembalakan dan pembukaan kebun.

Daripada Laporan Penilaian Impak Alam Sekiatar (EIA) yang dihantar oleh TNB kepada Jabatan Alam Sekitar dan diluluskan oleh JAS, ditulis dengan jelas bahawa Kampung Teji / Telanok adalah berada di dalam kawasan yang berisiko tinggi di mana sekiranya berlaku apa apa kejadian empangan pecah, kampung kampung ini akan ditenggelami air dan semua penduduk tidak mengkin terselamat. Maka dicadangkan supaya penduduk di kampung kampung ini dipindah semula.

Kami tidak tahu tentang perkara ini SEBELUM laporan EIA ini diluluskan. Kami juga tidak dapat memberi apa-apa pandangan kami terhadap projek Empangan semasa laporan EIA ini disediakan dan sebelum ia diluluskan.

Tanah adat Kg. Orang Asli adalah hak masyarakat Orang Asli di sini. Kami adalah pemegang hak tanah secara adat. Hak tanah kami adalah dilindungi oleh Perlembagaan Persekutuan, Akta Pengambilan Tanah 1960 dan Aktan Orang Asli 1954.

Kami membuat laporan ini untuk merekodkan perasaan tidak puas hati berkenaan masalah yang sedang hadapi. Sehingga kini projek empangan terus berjakan dan tanah adat kami terus diceroboh dan dimusnahkan sedikit demi sedikit. Ini adalah bertentangan dengan hak asasi kami.

Suresh Kumar
PSM Cameron
019-569 6964

Hentikan Segera Intimidasi Terhadap Penduduk Cameron oleh Polis Kuantan

KENYATAAN AKHBAR
J/kuasa Tanah, Rumah & Gerai (JRTG)

23 OKTOBER 2012

Kami wakil Jawatankuasa Tanah, Rumah & Gerai (JTRG) mahukan Polis Kuantan hentikan segera intimidasi terhadap penduduk Cameron Highlands yang ditahan di hadapan Pejabat MB Pahang ( 25 dewasa dan 6 kanak-kanak) pada 10/7/2012 dan dimasukkan ke dalam lokap sehari sebelum dibebaskan pada hari keesokannya.

Pada hari Ini adalah kali ketiga Polis Kuantan ingin merekod kenyataan daripada penduduk. Di dalam 2 kali pertama, penduduk telah meminta notis 111 dan Polis Kuantan tidak kembali semula.

Tetapi pada kali ini, 4 ibubapa dan 3 kanak-kanak telah diberikan notis 111 untuk hadir memberi keterangan berkenaan tangkapan yang dibuat pada 10/7/2012. Kanak-kanak yang termuda berusia 4 tahun turut diberi notis 111.

Walaupun sudah 3 ½ bulan berlalu, namun nampaknya Polis Kuantan masih lagi ingin intimidasi penduduk dengan alasan mengambil kenyataan. Apakah kenyataan yang Polis Kuantan perlukan dari budak berumur 4 tahun? Kesemua yang ditahan telah direkod kenyataan sebanyak 2 kali semasa dalam tahanan. Apakah lagi yang sedang dicari oleh Polis Kuantan? Soalan yang ditanya adalah serupa setiap kali.

Perlu juga dimaklumkan di sini, wakil JRTG telah membuat laporan polis terhadap kekasaran Polis Kuantan semasa penangkapan pada 10/7/2012. Di antara sebab-sebab laporan polis dibuat oleh JRTG ialah:

DSP Azmi (Timbalan KPD Kuantan) mencengkuk & mengheret leher tahanan dengan ganas semasa dalam tahanan
ACP Mohd Jasmani Yusoff (KPD Kuantan) mencekik tahanan semasa dalam tahanan
ACP Mohd Jasmani Yusoff berbohong kepada media dengan menyatakan salah seorang penduduk adalah orang yang dikehendaki oleh Polis
KPD Kuantan berniat jahat mencari ruang untuk mendakwa penduduk Cameron dengan ingin menguji air kencing
Penahanan semalaman dalam lokap tanpa sebab pada 10/7/2012
Tahanan lokap Mahkahmah Kuantan tidak diberikan rawatan segera pada 11/7/2012
Polis Kuantan ambil ‘statement’ bersama bail polis walaupun tempoh tahanan sudah lebih 24jam

Disediakan oleh:
Suresh Kumar
Setiausaha
PSM Cameron Highlands
019-569 6964

Engaging the people for the future of Cameron Highlands - Malaysiakini

Engaging the people for the future of Cameron Highlands

Suresh Kumar
1:51PM Oct 22, 2012

Simon and I arrived at the assembly point at 7.45am. We had to tell the bus driver there that this place would be used for Himpunan Rakyat Cameron (HRC) and asked him to move his vehicle. That was the state of the car park three hours before the HRC event. Empty and clear.

But things changed around 11am. The Cameron Highlands District Council (MDCH) car park turned into a carnival place with the presence of 250 people to join the HRC.

The HRC went on well with the presence of the people, political parties and NGOs. Joined together with HRC were the DEMA (a students group from Universiti Sains Malaysia) and secondary school students from Cameron Highlands.
Their appearances were pretty creative. This showed that the HRC Committee was able to conduct the assembly smoothly, if allowed.

Many participants wore green coloured clothing as a symbol of the environment that needed to be preserved. Slogans, such as ‘Long live the people' and ‘Save Cameron' by the emcee, Choon Kai, motivated everyone. Headbands and green flags were also distributed to the participants.

The programme began at 11am and for the next one-and-a-half hours, there were speeches, songs, banner signing and drama performances. The participation of the local people and outsiders in the HRC brought about a carnival kind of atmosphere.

Their participation was definitely encouraging, compared with other programmes that we had organised. There were tables to display posters, banners and party newspapers. Flyers and mineral water were given free.

Banners on the struggle of the Cameron Highlands people and those on past activities were hung up at various parts of the area and the participants were also given the opportunity to write out their own placards.

Although many policemen and women and Rela members were positioned around our place of gathering, this did not put fear in the participants. The Cameron police cooperated well with the
organisers and there was no much trouble with the police.

In fact, the Cameron Highlands district police chief, DSP Zahari Wan, gave a ‘no objection' letter for the holding of the HRC a day before the rally, while the MDCH gave us permission to use the car park two days before the event.

Four representatives from Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) gave speeches on the failure of the traffic system in Cameron Highlands; the injustice of the Pahang government in granting land titles to Cameron residents; the construction of an construction in Blue Valley that will pollute the environment; and the problems of the Green Cow residents as a result of commercial projects.

The indigenous peoples, the Orang Asli of Cameron Highlands, also took part in our programme for the first time. The oppression against this community is no longer acceptable.

Three batin or village chiefs of the villages near the Ulu Jelai hydroelectric voiced out their problems as a result of the construction of the dam in Blue Valley.

The Save Malaysia Stop Lynas and Bukit Koman Anti-Cyanide Committee were also present to show their support for the HRC. These groups face problems as a result the profits given priority over the people and the environment.

All Pakatan Rakyat political parties, PKR, DAP and PAS, as well as PSM, took part to show support for the environment and the people of Cameron Highlands. PSM members came from as far as Johor, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Perak and Penang.

The assemblyperson for Tras in Raub, Pahang, Chong Siew Onn, was also present to give support. Andansura represented PAS and he too gave a speech as the environment committee chairperson for Pahang PAS.

Individuals such as Vincent Jiam (Project Harvest of Hope), Dr Jayabalan (People's Green Coalition) and Anand Ang (activist from Sabah) were also present to support the HRC. Jayabalan warned that the rivers in Cameron were being polluted at an alarming rate.

I read our our declaration at the end of the HRC. This HRC was definitely the first step of the Cameron people to restore the people's right to make decisions on the future direction of Cameron Highlands.

If the government continues to act deaf, blind and mute to these issues, then more people will gather in other locations in Cameron Highlands to demand for a change.

This is the declaration I read out:

We the people of Cameron Highlands and Malaysia declare today:

We are against the forest clearings by big companies that are profit-conscious. Monitoring and enforcement against forest clearing should be free from corruption and political intervention.

We are against the construction of the hydroelectric dam in Ulu Jelai, which will destroy 300ha of forests and create lot of problem for the indigenous people there.

We are against farms operated above the water catchment area in Kuala Terla, which is causing serious water pollution. The use of pesticides, fertilizers and land clearing should not pollute the water.

We are against projects approved by the state government without considering the safety of the people, such as the project in Green Cow.

We want the government to consult with the people on the transportation system in Cameron Highlands that was almost crippled. Any solution to this problem should be discussed with the people before being implemented.

We are against the injustice of the Pahang state government in providing land ownership for housing, farms and stalls for the residents of Cameron Highlands. Priority should be given to the lower Income group, rather than to corporations and cronies.

We are against the construction and operation of the incinerator in Blue Valley to dispose of the wastes of Cameron Highlands. Replace the incinerator project with an environment-friendly recycling centre.

We are against projects that pollute the environment and are harmful to the people such as Lynas rare earths refinery in Kuantan, the gold mine in Bukit Koman and the petrochemical projects in Pengerang, Johor.

Orang Asli join Cameron Highlands protest - Malaysiakini

Orang Asli join Cameron Highlands protest

1:16PM Oct 22, 2012

Some 250 people joined the Himpunan Rakyat Cameron (HRC), yesterday morning, amidst heavy police presence, to protest various environmental issues in the mountain resort district.

The rally was held to protest, among others, rampant forest clearing, in particular for the construction of the Ulu Jelai hydroelectric dam.

NONE

Himpunan Rakyat Cameron secretary Suresh Kumar said participants dressed in green flooded the Cameron Highlands District Council (MDCH) car park by 11am and turned it into carnival.

“There were speeches, songs, banner signing and drama performance. The participation of locals and outsiders in HRC formed a carnival kind of atmosphere,” he said of the one and a half hour rally.

He was pleased that the area’s Orang Asli community participated in a Cameron Highlands protest for the first time, saying it was a sign that “the oppression is no longer acceptable”.

“Three batins or the village chiefs of the villages near the Ulu Jelai hydroelectric dam were present to participate and voice out their problems due to the dam construction,” he said in a statement today.

He added the heavy presence of police and RELA officers did not scare the participants.

At the end of the rally, Suresh read out their declaration demanding the government to stop the dam project, and to stop allowing farming activities to pollute Kuala Terla water catchment area, among others.

Others present at the rally included opposition party members and environmental activists.

Suresh also praised Cameron Highlands OCPD Zahari Wan and MDCH for giving full cooperation to the organisers.

Himpunan Rakyat Cameron (HRC) 2012: First Step to Engage People In Cameron Highlands' Future Direction

Simon and I arrived at the assembly point at 7.45am. We had to tell the bus driver there that this place will be used for HRC and asked him to move his vehicle. That was the state of the car park three hours before the HRC event. Empty and clear. But things changed around 11am. The Cameron Highlands District Council (MDCH) car park turned into a carnival place with the presence of 250 people to join the HRC.

HRC went well with the presence of the people, political parties and NGOs. Joined together with HRC were the DEMA (students group from Universiti Sains Malaysia) and secondary school students from Cameron Highlands. Their appearances were pretty creative. This showed that the HRC Committee was able to conduct assembly smoothly if allowed. Many participants wore green colored clothing as a symbol of the environment that need to be preserved. Slogans such as LONG LIVE PEOPLE & SAVE CAMERON by emcee, Choon Kai motivated everyone. Headbands and green flags were also distributed to the participants.

The program began at 11am and for the next 1 1/2 hours, there were speeches, songs, banner signing and drama performance. The participation of locals and outsiders in HRC formed a carnival kind of atmosphere. The participation was definitely encouraging compared to other programs that we had organised. There were tables to display posters, banner and party newspapers. Flyers and mineral water were given free. Struggle banners and past activities banners were hanged in various parts of the area. Participants were also given the opportunity to write their own placard during HRC.

Although many police and RELA officer were located around HRC, it did not fear the participants. The Cameron police cooperated well with the organizers and there were not much trouble with the police. In fact, the Cameron Police OCPD, DSP Zahari Wan has given a ‘no objection’ letter for HRC a day before the rally while the MDCH gave permission to use the car 2 days before HRC.

4 representatives of the Committee under the Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM) have given speech on the following issues:

failure of traffic system in Cameron Highlands
injustice of Pahang Government in granting land titles to the Cameron residents
Incinerator construction in Blue Valley that will pollute the environment
Green Cow residents's problem due to commercial projects

The Cameron Indigenous Peoples (OA) participated for the first time in our program. The oppression against this community is no longer acceptable. 3 Batins or the Village Chiefs of the villages near the Ulu Jelai Hydroelectric Dam were present to participate and voice out their problems due to the dam construction.

The Save Malaysia Stop Lynas & Bkt Koman Anti-Cyanide Committee were also present to show support for HRC. These groups face problems when profits were prioritised before people and the environment.

All Pakatan Rakyat political parties (PKR, DAP & PAS) and PSM took part to show support for the environment and the people in Cameron. PSM members came from as far as Johor, Seremban, KL, Selangor, Perak and Penang. Chong Siew Onn (Assemblyman of Tras, Raub) was also present to give support. Andansura representing the National PAS and as the Environment Committee chairman of PAS Pahang gave a speech.

Individuals such as Vincent Jiam (Project Harvest of Hope), Dr.Jayabalan (People's Green Coalition) & Mr. Anand Ang (activists from Sabah) also present to support HRC. Dr.Jayabalan warned that the river pollution in Cameron is at an alarming rate.

I read the Declaration at the end of HRC. HRC was definitely the first step by the Cameron people to restore the people's right to make decisions on the future direction of Cameron Highlands. If the government continues to act deaf, blind and mute on these issues, then more people will gather in other locations in Cameron calling for a new change. The declaration was read as follows:

WE THE PEOPLE OF CAMERON AND MALAYSIA DECLARES TODAY,

WE ARE AGAINST THE FOREST CLEARING BY BIG COMPANIES WHICH ARE PROFIT CONSCIOUS. MONITORING & ENFORCEMENT AGAINST FOREST CLEARING SHOULD BE FREE FROM CORRUPTION AND POLITICAL INTERVENTION.
WE ARE AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HYDROELECTRIC DAM IN ULU JELAI WHICH WILL DESTROY 300HA OF FOREST AND CREATES LOT OF PROBLEM TO THE INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THERE.
WE ARE AGAINST FARMS OPERATED ABOVE WATER CATCHMENT AREA IN KUALA TERLA WHICH CAUSES SERIOUS WATER POLLUTION. USE OF PESTICIDES, FERTILIZERS AND LAND CLEARING SHOULD NOT POLLUTE WATER.
WE ARE AGAINST PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE SUCH AS THE PROJECT IN GREEN COW.
WE WANT THE GOVERNMENT TO CONSULT WITH THE PEOPLE ABOUT THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM THAT ALMOST CRIPPLED IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS. ANY SOLUTIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE DISCUSSED WITH THE PEOPLE BEFORE IMPLEMENTED.
WE ARE AGAINST THE INJUSTICE BY THE PAHANG STATE GOVERNMENT ON PROVIDING THE LAND OWNERSHIP FOR HOMES, FARMS AND STALLS FOR THE RESIDENTS IN CAMERON HIGHLANDS. PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO LOWER INCOME GROUP RATHER THAN CORPORATIONS AND CRONIES.
WE ARE AGAINST THE CONSTRUCTION & OPERATION OF THE INCINERATOR IN BLUE VALLEY TO DISPOSE THE WASTE OF CAMERON. REPLACE INCINERATOR WITH AN ENVIRONMENT FRIENDLY RECYCLING CENTRE.
WE ARE AGAINST ANY PROJECTS WHICH POLLUTES THE ENVIRONMENT AND HARMFUL TO PEOPLE SUCH AS LYNAS IN KUANTAN, GOLD MINE IN BUKIT KOMAN AND PETROCHEMICAL PROJECT IN PENGERANG, JOHOR.

Photos are available at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Himpunan-Rakyat-Cameron-HRC-2012/114990045323874

Prepared by,
Suresh Kumar
Secretary
HRC Committee
019-569 6964