KUALA LUMPUR: The increase of the land lease pricing in Cameron Highlands to RM4,500 per 0.4ha a year from the RM900 under the temporary occupation licence (TOL) will pose a great burden on consumers.
Former deputy agriculture and agro-based industry minister Sim Tze Tzin (PKR - Bayan Baru) said farmers working on such lands would then be forced to increase the price of vegetables and the brunt would be borne by consumers.
"When the cost is increased, farmers will have to increase the price of vegetables too and this burden will then be passed on to our consumers.
"Are Malaysians ready to eat expensive vegetables? This will affect our food security because food price will be expensive too," he told a press conference at the parliament today.
Sim said the land lease price hike would affect 2,041 farmers in Cameron Highlands.
In January, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail was quoted as saying vegetable farmers in Cameron Highlands operating under the TOL status yearly could now enjoy renting lands for three years in a row with a maximum of 1.2ha.
He, however, did not announce the amount needed to be paid by farmers at the time.
Farmers among others would need to acquire the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practice (MyGAP) with 30 months of their application to be eligible for the land lease registration.
After three years, farmers are also eligible to continue the lease for an additional two years.
Tanah Rata assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong, when sending a memorandum on the matter to DAP organising secretary Anthony Loke, called on Pahang state government to review the land lease price.
Chiong said as of now, Cameron Highlands farmers were already facing various challenges due to high operating costs and the lack of workforce, and the new increase in land lease price would further burden the small-time farmers.
"Farmers in Cameron Highlands are not big-time farmers who own 50 acres (20ha) of land. They only operate on two (0.8ha) or three (1.2ha) acres or the maximum is five acres (2ha).
"I hope YB (Loke) will bring up this issue in the Dewan Rakyat so that the voice of Cameron Highlands farmers will be heard. I hope this issue will be allowed to be discussed and debated in the Parliament," he said.
Asked if the farmers have voiced concern to the Pahang state government first before bringing up the issue to the federal level, Chiong claimed the farmers' pleas were ignored by the state administration.