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: 

1. DSP Azmi (Timbalan KPD Kuantan) mencengkuk & mengheret leher tahanan dengan ganas semasa dalam tahanan 
2. ACP Mohd Jasmani Yusoff (KPD Kuantan) mencekik tahanan semasa dalam tahanan
3. ACP Mohd Jasmani Yusoff berbohong kepada media dengan menyatakan salah seorang penduduk adalah orang yang dikehendaki oleh Polis 
4. KPD Kuantan berniat jahat mencari ruang untuk mendakwa penduduk Cameron dengan ingin menguji air kencing
5. Penahanan semalaman dalam lokap tanpa sebab pada 10/7/2012
6. Tahanan lokap Mahkahmah Kuantan tidak diberikan rawatan segera pada 11/7/2012
7. 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.

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,

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. WE ARE AGAINST PROJECTS APPROVED BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT WITHOUT CONSIDERING THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE SUCH AS THE PROJECT IN GREEN COW.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. 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

Himpunan Rakyat Cameron (HRC) 2012: Langkah Pertama Penglibatan Rakyat Dalam Hala Tuju Cameron Highlands

Saya dan Simon sampai di tempat berhimpun pukul 7.45pagi. Kami terpaksa memberitahu pemandu sebuah bas di situ bahawa tempat ini akan digunakan untuk HRC dan telah meminta beliau mengalihkan kenderaannya. Begitulah keadaan tempat letak kereta 3 jam sebelum HRC bermula. Sunyi dan sepi. Tetapi keadaan  bertukar sebaliknya pada pukul 11pagi. Tempat letak kereta Majlis Daerah Cameron Highlands bertukar menjadi satu tempat karnival dengan kehadiran lebih kurang  250 rakyat untuk menyertai HRC.

HRC berjalan lancar dengan kehadiran rakyat, parti-parti politik dan badan-badan NGO. Kelihatan juga kumpulan pelajar DEMA (USM, Pulau Pinang) dan pelajar-pelajar sekolah menengah dari Cameron Highlands. Penampilan mereka cukup kreatif . Ini membuktikan Jawatankuasa HRC boleh menjalankan perhimpunan dengan lancar jika dibenarkan. Kebanyakkan peserta memakai pakaian bewarna hijau sebagai simbol alam sekitar yang perlu dipelihara. Tidak ketinggalan laungan HIDUP RAKYAT dan SELAMATKAN CAMERON oleh pengacara. Kain lilit kepala juga diedarkan kepada peserta.

Program dimulakan pada pukul 11pagi dan di antara program-program sepanjang 1 1/2 jam ialah ucapan, nyanyian, tandatangan rakyat di atas banner dan lakonan. Suasana sekitar HRC berupa karnival dengan penglibatan lebih banyak rakyat Cameron berbanding program-program terdahulu. Meja-meja telah disediakan yang menjual akhbar-akhbar parti, mengedar risalah dan mengedar air mineral percuma. Banner perjuangan dan aktiviti-aktiviti terdahulu dipamerkan di merata tempat di kawasan berhimpun. Banyak peserta yang hadir telah diberi peluang untuk menulis sendiri placard mereka di HRC.

Walaupun polis dan RELA begitu banyak di sekitar lokasi HRC, ia tidak memberikan ketakutan kepada peserta. Polis Cameron telah bekerjasama dengan penganjur dan kami tidak mempunyai banyak masalah dengan polis. Perlu dimaklumkan di sini, KPD Polis Cameron, DSP Wan Zahari telah memberikan surat tiada halangan untuk HRC 1 hari sebelum perhimpunan dan kebenaran menggunakan tempat letak kereta pula diperolehi dari MDCH 2 hari sebelum HRC.

4 wakil Jawatankuasa di bawah Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) telah memberikan ucapan mengenai isu-isu seperti:

• kegagalan sistem trafik di Cameron Highlands
• ketidakadilan Kerajaan Pahang dalam memberikan hakmilik tanah kepada penduduk Cameron
• pembinaan Insinerator di Blue Valley yang akan mencemar alam sekitar
• masalah penduduk Green Cow akibat projek komersil

Kehadiran Orang Asal (OA) Cameron julung-julung kali di dalam program yang pernah kami lakukan menunjukkan tekanan (oppression) ke atas masyarakat ini tidak boleh diterima lagi. 3 Batin (Ketua kampung) dari perkampungan OA berdekatan Empangan Hidroelektrik Ulu Jelai hadir untuk mengambil bahagian dan menyuarakan masalah yang dihadapi oleh mereka akibat pembinaan empangan.

Kehadiran kumpulan Save Malaysia, Stop Lynas & J/kuasa Anti-Cyanide Bkt Koman, Raub menunjukkan sokongan untuk HRC oleh kumpulan yang menghadapi masalah apabila keuntungan didahulukan sebelum manusia dan alam sekitar.

Kesemua parti politik Pakatan Rakyat (PKR, DAP & PAS) dan PSM mengambil bahagian untuk menunjukkan sokongan kepada isu alam sekitar dan penduduk di Cameron. Ahli-ahli PSM datang dari sejauh Johor, Seremban, KL, Selangor, Perak dan Pulau Pinang. YB Chong Siew Onn (ADUN Tras, Raub) juga hadir untuk memberi sokongan. Sdr Andansura juga telah hadir &memberi ucapan selaku Pengerusi Lajnah Alam Sekitar PAS Pahang, mewakili PAS Pahang dan PAS Nasional.

Individu seperti Sdr Vincent Jiam (Projek Menuai Harapan), Dr.Jayabalan (People's Green Coalition) & Sdr Anand Ang (Aktivis dari Sabah) juga telah memberikan sokongan kepada HRC. Dr.Jayabalan telah menyentuh mengenai pencemaran sungai di Cameron di tahap yang membimbangkan.

HRC disudahi dengan bacaan Deklarasi oleh saya. HRC adalah langkah pertama oleh rakyat untuk  mengembalikan hak kepada rakyat membuat keputusan di dalam hala-tuju Cameron Highlands. Jika pihak pemerintah terus berlakun seperti pekak, buta dan bisu terhadap isu-isu ini, maka lebih banyak rakyat akan berkumpul di lokasi-lokasi lain menuntuk perubahan. Deklarasi yang telah dibacakan adalah seperti berikut:

KAMI PENDUDUK CAMERON DAN RAKYAT MALAYSIA YANG BERKUMPUL PADA HARI INI,

1. MEMBANTAH PENEROKAAN HUTAN OLEH SYARIKAT-SYARIKAT BESAR YANG MEMENTINGKAN  KEUNTUNGAN. SISTEM PEMANTAUAN & PENGUATKUASAAN TERHADAP PENEROKAAN HUTAN MESTI BEBAS DARI RASUAH DAN CAMPURTANGAN POLITIK PEMERINTAH.
2. KAMI MEMBANTAH PEMBINAAN EMPANGAN ULU JELAI YANG AKAN MENENGGELAMKAN HUTAN YANG BESAR DAN MENIMBULKAN BANYAK MASALAH KEPADA ORANG ASAL.
3. KAMI MEMBANTAH PEMBUKAAN KEBUN DI ATAS KAWASAN TADAHAN AIR KUALA TERLA YANG MENYEBABKAN PENCEMARAN AIR YANG SERIUS. PENGGUNAAN RACUN,  BAJA DAN PENOLAKAN TANAH HARUS DIKAWAL SUPAYA TIDAK MENYEBABKAN PENCEMARAN AIR.
4. KAMI MEMBANTAH PROJEK-PROJEK SWASTA YANG DILULUSKAN  OLEH KERAJAAN NEGERI PAHANG TANPA MEMPERTIMBANGKAN KESELAMATAN PENDUDUK SEPERTI DI GREEN COW.
5. KAMI MEMBANTAH TINDAKAN KERAJAAN YANG TIDAK PERNAH MEMBUAT RUNDINGAN DENGAN RAKYAT CAMERON TERHADAP SISTEM PENGANGKUTAN YANG HAMPIR LUMPUH & CADANGAN PENYELESAIANNYA KETIKA MUSIM CUTI.
6. KAMI MEMBANTAH KETIDAKADILAN KERAJAAN PAHANG DALAM MEMBERIKAN PEMILIKAN TANAH DI CAMERON HIGHLANDS UNTUK RUMAH, KEBUN ATAU GERAI. KAMI  MEMBANTAH KEUTAMAAN DIBERIKAN KEPADA KRONI PEMERINTAH ATAU SYARIKAT KAPITALIS DAN BUKAN RAKYAT BIASA.
7. KAMI MEMBANTAH PEMBINAAN & OPERASI INSINERATOR DI BLUE VALLEY UNTUK MELUPUS SAMPAH DI CAMERON. GANTIKAN INSINERATOR DENGAN PUSAT KITAR SEMULA YANG MESRA ALAM SEKITAR.
8. KAMI MEMBANTAH PROJEK-PROJEK YANG MENCEMARKAN ALAM SEKITAR DAN MEMBAHAYAKAN KESIHATAN RAKYAT SEPERTI LYNAS DI KUANTAN, LOMBONG EMAS DI BUKIT KOMAN DAN PROJEK PETROKIMIA DI PENGERANG JOHOR.

Gambar-gambar HRC 2012 boleh dilihat di http://www.facebook.com/pages/Himpunan-Rakyat-Cameron-HRC-2012/114990045323874

Disediakan oleh:
Suresh Kumar
Setiausaha
J/kuasa Penganjur HRC 2012
019-569 6964