KUANTAN: The Pahang government has launched an investigation into allegations from traders at Medan Agro in Kea Farm, Cameron Highlands, regarding excessively high rental rates. State Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Sim Chon Siang said he received reports on the matter last week claiming the RM500 rental had surged to thousands of ringgit.

"I can confirm that we have received a report on the rental issue and are investigating it. These are serious allegations so we are getting in touch with the relevant quarters to obtain more information to verify the claims. "We will inform the findings once our investigations are completed.....I expect us to complete the process within two weeks," he told reporters during a press conference in conjunction with the Malaysia International Tourism (MIT) Expo Pahang at a hotel here today. 

The three-day MIT was opened by Pahang Unity, Tourism and Culture Committee chairman Leong Yu Man, who represented Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail. Several days ago, a representative of a non-governmental organisation claimed in a TikTok video that the local authorities in Cameron Highlands had leased Medan Agro to another company which allegedly increased the RM500 rental to RM7,500 a month. The representative claimed that visitors often say that the prices of products in Cameron Highlands were costly and it might have been the result of the high rental rates.

Meanwhile, Leong when speaking on the issue said she hopes that the allegations of expensive products at Medan Agro will not affect tourist arrivals to the highlands. "We regularly monitor the prices of goods sold at tourist destinations in Pahang and action will be taken if we receive complaints (on sudden price increase). We hope traders will comply with the permitted price for products," she said.

Source: NST