FARMER Wong See Yee wonders if he will ever be able to expand his vegetable plantation in Cameron Highlands.

For someone who once had a vision of raising vegetable production in the highlands, he is now struggling with manpower issues and can barely maintain current levels.

It used to be easy for him to hire workers from Bangladesh but because of the implementation of the E-Card (enforcement card) and stringent immigration vetting processes, it has become tough now.

“I was planning to expand but now I have to reduce production because of manpower shortage. I am able to survive but some others I know have abandoned their farms.

“The future is bleak for them because there are no workers. Also, vegetable production is slow which leads to them not fulfilling some of their orders,” he told MetroPerak.

“They are in a pitiful situation. The authorities have made things tougher for all of us, especially small-time farmers,” he said.

Wong added his situation was not as bad as other farmers who are really struggling to make ends meet.

Some were bogged down by “red tape” issues related to temporary occupation licences (TOL) and because of that, many were unable to get legal workers.

A worker at a vegetable farm at Blue Valley in Cameron Highlands. Farmers say because of the lack of workers, their production has reduced.

“The Cameron Highlands District and Land Office gave these farmers official letters so they can apply for foreign workers but the Immigration Department only wants to see the TOL, not the letter.

“This is why they cannot hire new workers and renew the permits of existing workers. Illegal immigrants who applied for the E-Card could not get them because of the TOL.

“The uncertainty in their land status has caused lots of problems for these farmers,” said Wong.

Immigration director-general Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali had said foreign workers who failed to apply for the E-Card should surrender or risk being fined and jailed.

Due to that, some farmers are opting to get new workers through recruitment agencies.

Cameron Highlands Vegetable Growers Association secretary-general Chay Ee Mong said many did not opt for the E-Card as they have decided to hire new workers for their farms since February this year.

“Not many responded to the E-Card measure because the processing fee was high even though the card is free.

“Home Ministry officials briefed us about it but most farmers decided to get new workers. Those without TOL struggled and some have abandoned their farms due to lack of manpower,” he said.

Another farmer, Ng Tien Khuan, said the E-Card and rehiring process can be very tedious.

“Some of these farmers are old and not well versed in online applications. There are many requirements, charges are high and it is complicated.

“From workers to TOL, these farmers are giving up because the process is too long and time-consuming.

“I understand that rules are meant to be followed but if they are too strict, you are going to lose these farmers,” he said.

A worker attending to a vegetable farm at Bertam Valley in Cameron Highlands.

Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands president R. Ramakrishnan said the problem started with the farmers themselves.

“They opted for illegal workers and when enforcement action was taken, these workers had to leave.

“For them to lament now is not right because the government gave them the opportunity to amend things. They did not take it and are feeling the strain now,” he said.

“This is why they have no option but to close down their farms. As for TOL, some of these farmers clear land illegally for farming and it is still going on,” he added.

Ramakrishnan said the authorities should also be fair as some farmers had done their applications accordingly but the delay in processing is affecting them.

He said both farmers and agencies are at fault and it is a lesson for all.

“You want farmers to obtain approval but the government is taking a long time to process it. This needs to be addressed,” he said.

Pahang MCA chairman Datuk Hoh Khai Mun said the state government should allow the Cameron Highlands District Officer to handle the renewal and application of TOL.

He said this would cut down on red tape and speed up the process of obtaining TOL.

“The Pahang government should come up with a mechanism to allow the district officer to approve TOL applications,” he said when contacted.

“At present, the farmers have to go through various departments to get their TOL. It is tedious and because of that, they are unable to employ foreign workers,” he added.

Hoh also suggested the state government should allow farmers to renew their licences after three years instead of the current one-year term.

“When I was the Pahang Local Council, Health and Environment Committee chairman from 2004 to 2013, farmers only needed to renew their TOL after three years.

“And it was the district officers who handled the applications.

“Now they have to go through many processes and by the time the renewal process is done, the new licence would be expiring soon,” he added.

Cameron Highlands Malay Farmers Association chairman Datuk Syed Abdul Rahman Syed Abdul Rashid said there was a backlog for TOL applications and the authorities must take steps to ensure it was done fast.

He said the authorities should come up with a TOL online renewal system for farmers.

“Doing it online would make the process easier, simpler and faster as they no longer need to go to administrative offices.

“Some of us have applied for renewal but due to the backlog, we do not have a new TOL but expired ones,” he said.

-The Star-