Palanivel to discuss with Home Ministry possibility of Rohingyas working at Camerons farms
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| Thousands of Rohingya board boats operated by human traffickers each year aiming to reach Malaysia [Asiapix] |
By Ivan Loh
January 3, 2014
CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri G. Palanivel will discuss with the Home Ministry a proposal to allow Rohingya refugees to work at farms here.
Palanivel said he had heard the grouses of local farmers on the lack of farmhands, during his visit to Kampung Raja and Bertam Valley.
“I will discuss with the Home Ministry to maybe get the Rohingyas permits to work here. We are not giving (permits) to 3,000 to 4,000 people but just enough to work at farms,” he said.
Palanivel said he would also hold discussions over the proposed relocation of SJKC Bertam Valley.
“I understood that (Tenaga Nasional Berhad) could allocate RM10mil to build a new school for them. We have also identified a plot of land some 1.5km away from the current location that could be used for that purpose,” he said.
“We will need to talk on it whether the school wants to be relocated,” he added.
He also said that the RM40mil flood mitigation project on the Sungai Bertam embankment had started and required that the area along the be cleared.
“Some of the people staying near the river need to move out.
“It will be problematic every time the area is flooded and they need to be relocated,” he said.
“The Government is ready to assist those with legal titles with moving to another area,” he added.
The project covers a stretch of about 1.7km from the Sultan Abu Bakar dam.
The project is expected to be completed in November and will be able accommodate some 220cubic metres of water released from the dam.
