Farmers still bearing the scars of BN's 'Operation Tusk'

CAMERON POLLS | Away from the bustling Cameron Highlands tourist spots, the agricultural town of Ringlet rarely received attention, until recent years.

Since 2015, farm owners have been fighting a losing battle with the authorities who want to wipe out illegal vegetable farms.

The heart of the matter was the Pahang government's decision to stop issuing temporary occupation licences (TOL) to farmers in this town.

There have been many reasons cited by the authorities - from land encroachment to illegal farming.

Many farmers in Ringlet told Malaysiakini that their livelihood would be the first thing on their minds when they go to the polls on Jan 26.

Third-generation farmer Lai Weng Heng, 48, said he has not been sleeping easy since 2015, when his application for TOL renewal was denied.

"I am now an illegal farmer. I am under tremendous pressure. We own the crops, but not the land. Don't you think this is strange?" asked Lai.

Unlike other parts of Cameron Highlands, farming in Ringlet is mostly by independent farmers instead of large corporations.

The Pahang government, said Lai, has been indifferent to the plight of the small-time farmers.

"Many of us are illiterate. Farming is all we know... But without any assurance on land matters, it is difficult for us," he said.

In November 2014, Cameron Highlands was hit by mudslide, which killed four people. Authorities blamed it on illegal farming and initiated Ops Gading (Operation Tusk).

Between 2015 and 2018, many farmers had their farms destroyed by the authorities, who were backed by the military and the police.

But Lai's farm remains untouched. He is lucky. Tan Heok Hai, 72, was not.

Tan had been farming on a three-acre plot of land for 40 years without TOL when Ops Gading came knocking.

Tan had dismantled the plastic sheets which protected his crop from rain - a practice that protects delicate crops, prevents soil erosion but creates runoff - in hope the authorities would spare him.

When the bulldozers finally came, Tan could only watch in agony as the authorities took everything.

His crime? Illegally occupying Malay reserve land.

"They took the corn that was ready for harvest," said Tan. "My friend told me not to watch or I will cry. I do cry whenever I think of it."

At the time, Tan was broken. The incident broke his faith in BN as well, the party he supported all his life.

Tan was quick to add that his daughter, who works in Kuala Lumpur, will return to vote on Jan 26. His son ran a farm on leased land in Cameron Highlands.

A farmer who wished to be known only as Ng, 48, said he hoped the authorities would just leave the farmers be.

"In the past, we often worried about the Land Office showing up and disturbing us. We do not expect the government to do anything for us.

"Just leave us alone. We are small-scale farmers, we cannot expand (our farming) further," he said.

Ng said he will be backing Pakatan Harapan this time around because the new federal government had suspended Ops Gading.

"I feel more at ease now. I'm no longer worried that the government would send the military to our farms.

"At least, the new government is not taking actions in an arbitrary manner," he said.

In December, the cabinet's Cameron Highlands Rehabilitation Joint Action Committee Meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, decided that the authorities would soften their approach in handling land problems.

Even the name Ops Gading was renamed to a more pleasant Ops Lestari (Everlasting Operation).

Independent candidate Wong Seng Yee, 40, has made the Cameron Highlands by-election his platform to articulate the problems faced by farmers.

"The government should be using a more gentle approach in resolving problems, such as making it easier for farmers to start again.

"The government cannot simply disregard farmers and cast them aside. There are ways to improve policy, help the environment and reduce environmental problems," said Wong.

Wong, born and bred in Cameron Highlands, said he was the right man to send that message. After all, he has a Masters degree in Agricultural Science from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln under his belt.

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