SEPANG: The Malaysian Civil Defence Department will be mobilising its personnel to patrol areas in Cameron Highlands to prevent encroachment by irresponsible parties.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim said the move would help authorities monitor areas that were known to be hotspots for illegal immigrants as well as to report on any illicit activities.
"We will report any foul activities happening in the area and action will be taken against these people. This is a serious issue and the government will not take this lightly.
"Our task is to help the authorities prevent any encroachment activities, including those who take advantage of their permits by encroaching into areas larger than the approved limit.
Shahidan said that with the strength of 900,000 men and women under the department, the large number would help the authorities.
"We are planning to expand our manpower to two million volunteers and will deploy them if needed," he told a press conference at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport today.
Shahidan dismissed a report published by a Bahasa Malaysia daily on Wednesday that the National Security Council had directed the Territorial Army Regiment to be stationed at the Cameron Highlands district office to mitigate the issue.
"I was only suggesting for relevant agencies, including army reservists, to become volunteers; it wasn't an order."
Meanwhile, Shahidan also suggested that the Forestry Department adopt a "foster parent" approach to better monitor their designated areas.
He added that a more personal approach is needed to restore Cameron Highlands’ glory days when it used to have a cooler climate, filled with various plantations.
"More focus should be given to re-planting trees in the area and we need support from the public to do so," he said.