ANY move to prohibit commercial vehicles from using part of the Tapah-Cameron Highlands route can impact the supply of vegetables to consumers, Tanah Rata assemblyman Ho Chi Yang said.

The DAP lawmaker said the Public Works Department (PWD) posted a notice last month on its plan to ban commercial vehicles from using the route from Habu to Tringkap from 10am to 3pm on Friday to Sunday, including public and school holidays.

He, however, said after a dialogue session on February 3 where objection letters were presented, PWD decided to put the move on hold.

“In the long term, it might affect the supply of vegetables as a whole. Not only the farmers and logistics operators will be hit but consumers as well,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“Either there will be a short supply of produce or the prices might shoot up because of the disruption.”

Ho said last month, farmers and logistics operators were given up to January 27 to submit their objections and feedback.

On February 3, the Cameron Highlands PWD organised a dialogue session with the stakeholders where all of them objected to the proposal.

“The farmers and logistics operators’ reasoning was that vegetables are perishable goods,” he said.

“If there is a delay in sending them to the markets or other destinations, their quality may be affected.”

Logistics operators are depending on the farms for supply and there are about 3,000 farms in Cameron Highlands.

“So each farm has different schedules and the markets that they are sending the produce to are in Ipoh, Selayang, Singapore and other states,” he said.

“Different markets will have different (collection) times. So restricting the vehicles will not only affect the schedules but also the supply of vegetables.”

Traffic congestion

Ho believes the main reason for PWD’s proposal is to ease the traffic congestion in Cameron Highlands on weekends.

“It is because many public vehicles and tourists come to Cameron Highlands on weekends,” he said.

“But I don’t think restricting commercial vehicles will solve the problem.”

He said PWD should conduct a comprehensive study, not only monitoring the vehicles coming in but also seeking the opinion of professionals in town planning and traffic management as well as other agencies.

“This is because this restriction will affect not only vehicle movement but also food security,” he said.

Ho said he has written to the Works Ministry and attached 40 objection letters from the farmers and logistics operators.

The letter was sent to Works Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi and copied to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu and other agencies.

“What are the goals and key performance indicators the Works Ministry wants to achieve with this ban?” Ho asked.

“What research has been carried out by the ministry?” – February 10, 2023.