Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel has been rapped for keeping quiet on the illegal land clearing issue in Cameron Highlands, although he had knowledge of it for quite some time.
 
"The Cameron Highlands MP has admitted he knew a crime was taking place and possessed photographic evidence but yet he remained quiet," said Taman Mujur MIC branch chairperson VT Rajen in a statement today.
 
"Condoning a crime itself is an offense. By keeping quiet, he has violated his oath of office and betrayed the trust of voters in Cameron Highlands.”
 
Rajen said Palanivel had also failed to live up to the trust entrusted in him by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"If he had acted when he received the complaints and photographic evidence, lives could have been saved, including that of a 13-year-old boy,” he said.
 
Palanivel yesterday said he knew the mastermind behind the illegal land clearing in Cameron Highlands which had led to the flash flood and landslides there.

While admitting the person’s existence, coupled with photographic evidence, the Cameron Highlands MP added he could not say much or disclose more about the matter.
 
Rajen had earlier criticised the MIC president for not disclosing further on the mastermind behind the illegal land clearing in Cameron Highlands.
 
He said it was "baffling" when Palanivel responded that he could not say much.
 
Rajen reminded the MIC president that as Cameron Highlands MP and NRE minister, he had sworn an oath to the Agong to "not only discharge his duties with care but to also safeguard the country".
 
He also questioned whether Palanivel had made a police report against the purported criminal.
 
Palanivel  had also said that he had been briefing the prime minister, deputy prime minister and the cabinet on the issue and Rajen queried whether the "mastermind" was disclosed to them.
 
Rajen also asked what were the steps taken to address the problem as Palanivel had said that the illegal works had gone on for some time.
 
"Did he discuss with the police about this complaint? Did he show the photographs to the police," he further queried.
 
'Break silence'

Meanwhile, DAP Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo has urged Palanieval to break his silence and name the mastermind.
 
"I demand that Palanivel speak up. First he must state if the Bernama report is correct. Then if it is, he must explain why he is unable to say anything on this matter.

"People have suffered great losses. Why is he frightened? Who or what is he afraid of? What could be more important now other than assisting the victims if he has the information and ensuring this doesn't happen again," Gobind (right) asked in a statement. 

As a Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, and the peoples representatives, he is duty bound to speak up especially in times like this. 
 
"If it is true that he said it and he can't speak up, then he should resign as minister and MP of Cameron Highlands.

“I call upon the deputy prime minister who chaired the special meeting on floods and landslides in Cameron Highlands yesterday to respond to this report by Bernama and revelation by Palanivel. What will he do about it?”
 
Echoing similar sentiments MIC strategic director, S Vell Paari said like the whole country, he is puzzled why Palanivel did not act earlier.

Perhaps if he did, Vell Paari said the authorities could have stepped in and averted another disaster and saved lives.

"I am also curious as to who this mastermind is that even the minister seems unable to act? Is he so powerful and influential?

"Be that as it may, the voters in Cameron Highlands had entrusted Palanivel to safeguard their interests and welfare. If he had opted to remain silent fearing the repercussions to his position, then he has betrayed the voters' trust," the son of former MIC president S Samy Vellu added.

Vell Paari said Palanivel is not answerable to the 'mastermind' but to the people who voted him as their MP and the PM who saw it fit to appoint him as a minister.

"His action or lack of it is most disappointing. He must explain the reasons behind the silence," said the MIC strategic director.