KUANTAN: Farmers and residents of Cameron Highlands, who met Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob last week for clarification on their permanent land title applications, will be called in for an interview early next month.
The session with the 19 residents will be held at the Cameron Highlands district and land office to allow officers to go through their applications and assist them with the submission of all required documents.
State MIC chairman Datuk R. Goonasekaran, who was appointed by Adnan to handle the issue, said he went to Cameron Highlands on Monday to meet the district and land office representatives to discuss about the land title applications and their status.
"I brought along all the documents, which were handed to me by the 19 individuals. The district and land office went through the application status and they have decided to hold a one-on-one interview with each applicant in January.
"The district and land office is not rejecting the applications but wish to scrutinise it case by case. They have handled a similar application by another group of farmers in 2012 and will look into this.
"I will be present during the interview to ensure everything goes on smoothly," he said today.
Goonasekaran brushed aside news reports branding Adnan as arrogant and turned a deaf ear to the farmers' plight.
"It is not that Adnan did not want to listen to the farmers' plight. A video clip which had gone viral and claimed that Adnan told the group to leave, was actually captured a day before the meeting. Adnan met the group at Yayasan Pahang on Dec 13 and assured the farmers that he will help them resolve the land matter.
"I was informed that some of the documents were genuine while there were a few who did not fill up the forms as required and some even were occupying road and river reserves. Those who were staying on reserve land will have to file in fresh applications," he said.
A district and land office spokesman said checks on the documents provided by Goonasekaran revealed some of the applications were in the early stages of being processed while some were seeking titles for land owned by others.
"The 19 farmers and residents have been operating vegetable farms and built workshops for some time and now they are seeking land titles to secure the plot.
"Sadly, they are not aware of the process and they cannot occupy road and river reserves. We will look into the cases and provide them with a suitable area.
"These individuals are unclear about the land title application process as they assumed the process can be completed within a short period.
"The district and land officer has to identify the plot, measure, submit a report to the Land and Mines Office before the matter is discussed in the state executive council meeting for approval," he said.
A source, who was present during the meeting last week, said Adnan had wanted to hear from the farmers and residents personally and not through their representative, who is the Cameron Highlands Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary B Suresh.
"That is the reason Suresh was not present during the meeting with Adnan at the Yayasan Pahang on Dec 13. Although Adnan initially did not meet them at the Yayasan Pahang lobby on Dec 12, but he met the farmers the following day and heard their grouses.
He told the farmers that their problems will be solved in stages and advised them to remain patient," he said.
Last week, news reports based on a short video recording, claimed that Adnan had refused to entertain the farmers and walked away when one of the female residents stepped forward to speak.
Adnan, who is known for his distinctive and outspoken characteristic, showed his soft side and caring nature when he arranged to meet the 19 individuals at Yayasan Pahang the following day, and even casually greeted the young children who accompanied their parents here.