News:

On December 6, 2014, Berita Harian (Daily News) and BERNAMA reported on the statement  of the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry of Malaysia which assured supply of vegetables for the local market will not be affected by the actions of the authorities which are now actively 'clearing' illegal vegetable farms in Cameron Highlands. Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob stated this was because the supply of vegetables from illegal farms in Cameron Highlands were never listed in the statistics of national oil supplies. "The government will do its utmost to find alternative supplies including importing vegetables if the vegetable of the country is affected," he informed to reporters after launching AgroAgent in ‘Dataran Kerayong' (Kerayong Square) today. In the meantime, he said the ministry will not compromise with those who hire foreign workers to work in the illegal vegetable fields in Cameron highlands. "The government will not entertain arguments from any illegal farmers even if there are any farmers who want to send a memorandum of protest due to the actions of the authorities that have affected the country's vegetable supply." If it is true that the vegetable supply has been affected, we will try our best to find a way to provide sufficient supply, but to allow illegal immigrants working in illegal fields until they conquer Cameron Highlands, we will not compromise on that, "he said.

Comments:

Opening of farms without a permit in Cameron Highlands is not the main cause of the enormous flood that has occurred recently and claimed five lives in Cameron Highlands. However, the government has taken unwise steps to curb this problem by arresting illegal immigrants who have come to Malaysia to work as farmers. Farms without a permit were also ordered to be closed. This has been a concern of Malaysians in which these actions can cause the supply of fresh vegetables to decrease severely. If this happens, where will the government obtain vegetables to meet demands? They will definitely import vegetables from neighboring countries such as Thailand and Indonesia. This is not a wise move. If it is true that the plantations without a permit affects the land, supposedly this issue should be dealt better and more efficiently, not according to their desires.

As reported by the press before, greedy logging by certain parties have reshaped the land in the highlands. In fact, the corruption practiced here has resulted in these logging projects to proceed smoothly. Their greed in attaining huge profits which exceed limits also should be stopped and the wrongdoers must be given appropriate penalty for their actions. Such catastrophic disasters occur among others due to the greed of ungrateful human hands. Allah (swt) said,

((ظَهَرَ الْفَسَادُ فِي الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِي النَّاسِ لِيُذِيقَهُم بَعْضَ الَّذِي عَمِلُوا لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ))

"Corruption has appeared throughout the land and sea by [reason of] what the hands of people have earned so He may let them taste part of [the consequence of] what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness]." [Surah al-Rum: 41]

It is no doubt that the application of the capitalist system today which has placed benefits as its benchmark in carrying out actions has opened space for greedy humans to obtain profit without thinking at all about safety aspects, let alone think about the Islamic perspective upon this issue. As a Muslim, we are required to accept calamity with patience and ridha. However, this does not mean that we will continue to keep silent and allow this mad destructiveness to continue unabated. May Allah (swt) hasten the return of the Khilafah "Caliphate" on the method of Prophethood which will implement the sharia as well as curb such irresponsible acts from recurring.

Written for the Central Media Office of Hizb ut Tahrir by

Sumayyah Ammar