Local residents are blaming a Felda-owned cattle rearing farm in Jempol, Negeri Sembilan, for polluting the air and water in the area for nearly 10 years.

The complaint was registered by some 700 families living in three Felda settlements near Felda Farm Product Sdn Bhd which has more than 1,000 cows.

The farm, which is run by some 50 Indonesian workers, has been operating since 1998.

According to Feriz Musa, secretary of the Felda Palong 14,15,16 settlers action committee, they have also discovered carcasses near the irrigation channels in the oil palm plantation.

"This is where some settlers have their bath and wash their clothes," he said, adding that they have also stumbled upon the severed head of a cow in the plantation.

Feriz told malaysiakini that when there are strong winds, the foul smell of cow dung fills the air.

"What is disgusting is that when we have functions such as weddings and so forth, apart from the bad stench, we also have to deal with the flies," he said.

No action

Feriz said the settlers have appealed to the Felda Farm management and the Veterinary Services Department but no action has been taken.

Following this, on Oct 27, 2004, they submitted a memorandum to Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan.

Feriz said Mohamad Hassan promised to act but nothing has transpired until now.

"We are not against the cattle rearing project but we want it moved to a more suitable location," he added.

Meanwhile, Felda Palong 14,15, 16 assistant manager Abdul Razak Samad told malaysiakini that the farm will be moved soon to a vacant area in Palong 16.

"We hope the settlers will be patient. Felda has agreed to build a new sewage system as well," he said.