Farmers can now rent land from government-linked firms
Land discussion: Dr Mah (left) showing the land involved in the 'legalisation exercise' at the State Secretariat building in Ipoh. Looking on are Chong (next to Dr Mah) and Wong (far right).
IPOH: More than 370 farmers in Gopeng got a new lease on life as they can now lease the land from state government-linked companies.
The number includes 163 ornamental fish breeders, some of whom had applied for a land title in the early 1990s.
State executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said the "legalisation exercise" involved four plots of land with a total size of 521.06 ha.
He said he hoped the farmers would take up the offer as soon as possible and develop their business further.
"The lease agreement is between the farmers and the State Economic Development Corporation or State Secretary Incorporated, which owns the land," said Dr Mah, who also heads a task force to resolve land problems in the state, at a press conference here yesterday.
MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek met the fish breeders here in March last year and gave them hope that their hard work in toiling the land without a title for almost three decades would not be forgotten.
Gopeng Ornamental Fishbreeders Association chairman Wong Yoke Thiam, 50, thanked MCA and the government, adding that the breeders were "happy about the solution, and surprised that the issue was resolved".
An ornamental fish breeder for over 20 years, Wong said the breeders would upgrade their farms since they no longer had to fear eviction.
The association's secretary Chong Lai San described the announcement as a "relief".
He said ornamental fish exports from Gopeng was worth about RM6mil a year and the amount was expected to rise as the farmers were now able to invest to increase their productivity.
-The Star-
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