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