CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Illegal farmers have returned to Cameron Highlands, barely a year after the authorities had launched a massive joint operation to curb illegal farming and land encroachment here.
National Security Council (NSC) secretary Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said areas which had previously been cleared of illegal farming were Ringlet, Sungai Mention, Kampung Raja and Lembah Bertam.
“We have discovered that illegal farmers have returned to their old ways in three locations near Blue Valley and Lembah Bertam, involving seven hectares of state land.
"The Irrigation and Drainage Department have also identified 26 rivers which had been encroached for the same activity.
"We view this matter seriously. Those who found guilty will face the consequences under Ops Gading 2, which was launched on March 3," he said after chairing the Cameron Highland Rehabilitation Technical Committee meeting here today.
He said phase two of the operation from March to July will focus on encroachment, eradicating illegal workers, as well as rehabilitating Cameron Highlands.
"Various actions will be taken against the culprits if they are found to be working in cahoots with the illegal farmers," he said.
He said enforcement officers, who conducted the operation, were threatened by gangsters believed to have been hired by illegal farmers.
A total of 83 per cent out of 2,258.16 hectares land for illegal farming had been destroyed from Dec 2014 to Dec 2015.
It was reported that the government needed at least RM2.2 billion in order to fully rehabilitate Cameron Highland, which had been ravaged by the scourge of illegal farming.