Regent: Address Cameron Highland labour shortage
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The serious problem of a foreign labour shortage in the farming and plantation sectors here must be addressed, said Regent of Pahang Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
“We must understand Cameron Highlands is a high quality vegetable and fruit producing area.
“Imagine the losses incurred if we don’t have manpower,” said Tengku Abdullah.
The Cameron Highlands District Council and the Immigration Department have been urged to identify the best mechanism to overcome the problem following the Ops Gading to combat land encroachment.
“The quarters concerned must provide a win-win formula to enable those who were given Temporary Occupation Licences (TOLs) to recruit foreign labourers to work on their land.
“It is indeed a serious situation not only for the land which has been encroached upon previously, but also on tea and strawberry plantations which prior to this used foreign workers,” Tengku Abdullah told reporters after attending a briefing on the Cameron Highlands Land Encroachment Eradication Operation here yesterday.
Also present was Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob.
Tengku Abdullah said the farming and plantation sectors in the area needed an estimated 1,000 foreign labourers to ensure the production of vegetables, fruits and flowers was not disrupted.
At the same time, he expressed satisfaction at the action taken by the National Security Council, which had successfully eradicated land encroachment for farming purposes in the area.
“We are also in the process of rehabilitating and re-greening the areas affected by awarding TOLs, especially to those who depend on farming to support their families,” said Tengku Abdullah.
He said the state government had approved more than 1,200 TOLs out of 2,000 applications while the rest were still being processed.
He also reminded residents and farmers in Cameron Highlands, including in Lembah Bertam, to maintain cleanliness of the popular tourism destination. — Bernama
Cameron Highlands is a high quality vegetable and fruit producing area. Imagine the losses incurred if we don’t have manpower.
Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah