Farmer admits to encroaching river reserve
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: In the wake of the Oct 23 flash flood, farmers and residents within Pahang’s Sungai Bertam river reserve said they were aware of the danger but stressed they had no choice as they needed to earn a living.
Businessman Heng Yang Cheong admitted he knew he was in the wrong for building his warehouse inside the river reserve where no activity or settlement is supposed to be located.
His warehouse, which stores cardboard boxes that he sells to farmers, is located near the Sultan Abu Bakar hydroelectric dam.
It has partially collapsed after part of its foundation was ripped away by the surge.
Many other farm structures, homes and buildings displayed similar signs of damage while Sungai Bertam itself was clogged with silt and flowing sluggishly in many places. “We have no other location. Kalau lu boleh kahwin dara, mahu
kahwin janda ka (If you can marry a virgin, would you marry a divorcee)?” Heng said, adding that he had suffered RM350,000 in losses.
The 50-year-old said he would be overjoyed if the authorities found an ideal place to relocate everyone to.
He would be the first to move if that happened, he said.
He said he would cooperate fully with the Drainage and Irrigation Department which will be demolishing any structures within the river reserve.
“If they say demolish, we will demolish.
“But after that, I hope they will let us resume business. If they cannot find a new place to relocate us, then we want to take this place again.
“We are willing to take the risk,” said Heng, who is also a farmer.
When asked whether he was worried about the worsening conditions in Cameron Highlands, he replied that basic needs came first for the residents.
“If you are hungry, will you first find something to eat or worry about your future generations? We will leave it to the authorities to come up with a solution,” he said.