Pahang serious about land legalisation in Cameron Highlands - Wan Rosdy

The Pahang state government is serious about implementing an agricultural land legalisation programme involving 5,526.291ha of Perbadanan Setiausaha Kerajaan-owned land in Cameron Highlands, said Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

He said the legalisation will be conducted via a Pahang Corporation Sdn Bhd (Pahang Corp) agricultural land rental scheme, replacing the temporary occupation licence (TOL) that began in 2020.

Wan Rosdy said 1,661 names have been updated in the farmers’ database under the legalisation programme as of June 30.

“Meanwhile, 403ha of land have been cultivated exceeding the original TOLs and 1,443ha are being processed for new approvals.

“From the total, 2,798ha have been surveyed for update in the database. Pahang Corp has been appointed as a one-stop agency for the collection of rent and charges of related agencies for the convenience of farmers,” he said in a statement in Kuantan yesterday.

Wan Rosdy said the programme aimed to reduce leakages in the state government’s collections and to coordinate and ensure compliance of all regulations, before, during and after rent periods.

He added that RM51.2 million or 58 percent of the annual rent for the period of 2020 to June 30 this year was collected, with RM37.8 million still pending.

“When compared to the overall total, the pending rent amount shows there are still many farmers who have not paid up and this indirectly will affect the revenue collection, which results in losses for the state government.

“Therefore, the Pahang government hopes that farmers who have yet to pay up will settle their rent payments in 2024,” he said.

- Bernama

Ruler warns of greed leading to 'colonisation' of Cameron Highlands

Flashy building in Tapah ‘as minister’s from there’, HRD Corp CEO tells PAC

Agriculture Ministry to review farmer appeals on diesel subsidies

Stop approving hill clearing in Cameron Highlands, group urges govt