Cameron Highlands District Tanah Tinggi Cameron (Malay)
District ofPahang andhill station
Daerah Cameron Highlands
Top down:Tea plantation • Rafflesia plant • Strawberries (left) • Black-throated sunbird (right) • All Souls' Church.
Seal
Etymology: Named after William Cameron, a British explorer and geologist.
Location of Cameron Highlands District inPahang
Interactive map of Cameron Highlands District
Cameron Highlands Location of Cameron Highlands District in Peninsular Malaysia Show map of Peninsular Malaysia Cameron Highlands Location of Cameron Highlands District inMalaysia Show map of Malaysia
Coordinates:4°30′N101°30′E / 4.500°N 101.500°E /4.500; 101.500
Country	Malaysia
State	Pahang
Surveyed	1885 by William Cameron
Seat	Tanah Rata
Local area government(s)	Cameron Highlands District Council
Government
• President	Zainal-Abidin Amin[1]
Area (MDCH operation area)[2]
• Total	712.18 km2 (274.97 sq mi)
Population  (2019[3])
• Total	43,700
• Density	61.4/km2 (159/sq mi)
• Demonym	Cameron Highlander
Time zone	UTC+08:00 (MST)
Postcode	39xxx
Calling code	+6-05
Vehicle registration plates	C
Website	www.mdcameron.gov.my

TheCameron Highlands (Malay:Tanah Tinggi Cameron) is adistrict inPahang,Malaysia, occupying an area of 712.18 square kilometres (274.97 sq mi). To the north, its boundary touches that ofKelantan; to the west, it shares part of its border withPerak. Situated at the northwestern tip of Pahang, Cameron Highlands is approximately 90 kilometres (56 mi) east fromIpoh, roughly 200 kilometres (120 mi) north fromKuala Lumpur or about 355 kilometres (221 mi) fromKuantan, the capital of Pahang. It is the smallest municipality in the state.

Surveyed by the government geologist and explorerWilliam Cameron^[4][5] in 1885, the outpost consists of threemukims (subdistricts), namelyRinglet,Tanah Rata and Ulu Telom.^[6] Its eight settlements areRinglet,Tanah Rata (the administrative centre),Brinchang, theBertam Valley,Kea Farm,Tringkap,Kampung Kuala Terla, Kampung Raja and Blue Valley. All are nestled at elevations ranging from 800 metres (2,600 ft) to 1,603 metres (5,259 ft) above sea level.^[7]

Developed in the 1930s, the tableland is one of the oldest tourist spots in Malaysia. Apart from itstea estates,^[8] the plateau is noted for its cool weather,orchards,nurseries,farmlands,cream tea culture,waterfalls,rivers,lakes,wildlife,mossy forest,golf course,hotels,places of worship,bungalows,Land Rovers,museum and native inhabitants (Orang Asli).

The Cameron Highlands were named after William Cameron, aScottish explorer and geologist^[4] who was commissioned by the colonial government to map out the Pahang-Perak border area in 1885.^[5][8][9]

In a statement concerning his mapping expedition, Cameron mentioned he saw "a sort of vortex on the mountains, while for a (reasonably) wide area we have gentle slopes and plateau land."^[9] When approached, SirHugh Low, theResident of Perak (1887–1889), expressed the wish of developing the region into a "sanatorium, health resort and open farmland." A narrow path to Cameron Highlands was then carved through the jungle. Nothing much happened after that.^[10]: 18

Forty years later, the tableland was given another review when SirGeorge Maxwell (1871–1959) visited the locale to see if it could be turned into a resort. He spent about nine days surveying the territory. Maxwell described the terrain as being "somewhat oval in shape on his return from the highlands." After comparing it withNuwara Eliya inSri Lanka andBaguio in thePhilippines,^[11] he decreed that the site should be developed into ahill station.^[12]

In mid-1925, an Agricultural Experiment Station was set up to confirm ifcinchona,tea,coffee,fruits andvegetables could be grown at the district. In December 1925, a superintendent was appointed to supervise the 200-acre (81-ha) plantation on Mount Beremban.^[13] While research at the station was being carried out, the colonial office assigned Captain C.C. Best, a surveyor from the Federated Malay States to trace the Telom River (Malay:Sungei Telom). The Annual Report of the Survey Department (1925) states he explored "the Ulu of the Telom which was the actual area traversed by Cameron" and "he went first to what is known as Cameron Highlands to obtain a basis of comparison and from there crossed over into the Telom Valley. He made a reconnaissance map of the headwaters of the Telom and his exploration has established definitely that the area at the Ulu of the Bertang (Bertam?) is incomparably the most suitable for development."^[14] This report, coupled with the confirmation that tea could also be grown, gave theBritish the motivation to develop the place.

In 1926,^[14] a development committee was formed to zone off the moorlands agriculture, defense, administration, housing, and recreation. Later, a three-million-dollarroad was constructed fromTapah to the highlands. It started from the 19th mile Tapah-Pahang Road and ended at Ginting "B" (Tanah Rata).^[15] The three-year contract was awarded to Messrs. Fogden, Brisbane and Company.^[15] The first installment of $250,000 was made in 1926.^[13] The project commenced on 1 January 1928; it was completed on Friday, 14 November 1930 – 47 days ahead of schedule.^[15] The building of the road was a challenge: the crew not only had to deal with the weather; they also had to cope with the risk of being struck down with malaria. The manning level varied from 500 to 3,000 workers during the construction stage. Throughout the contract, 375 employees were hospitalized for fever.^[15] The biggest problem faced by the contractor was the haulage of heavy equipment from the lowlands to the upper reaches. This setback was overcome with the use of steam-driven locomotives which were designed for work on steep gradients.^[8][16]

When the road was opened in 1931,^[17] theBritish and the locals moved in to settle on the slopes of the mountain. They were soon followed bytea planters andvegetable growers who found the climate to be suitable for the growth of their crops. On 1 July 1931, Cameron Highlands was made an autonomous sub-district underKuala Lipis, with its own Deputy District Officer subordinate to the Lipis District Officer.^[18] By the mid-1930s, there was a notable improvement in the constituency: it now had a six-hole golf course,^[19] several cottages, three inns, a police post, two boarding schools, a military camp, a dairy, a horse spelling ranch, nurseries, vegetable farms,tea plantations, a Government Rest House and an Agricultural Experiment Station. The domain continued to grow until the outbreak of theSecond World War. During theJapanese Occupation of theMalay Peninsula (1942–1945), there was hardly any development in the area. When theJapanese withdrew in August 1945, the place transformed. This, however, came to a halt during theMalayan Emergency (1948–1960). When the conflict ended, Cameron Highlands" experienced a constant change in its landscape. Today, the haven is not only the biggest and best known of Malaysia's hill stations; it is also the highest point inPeninsular Malaysia accessible by car.^[20]

The district has a diverse population of 33,278 people. It comprisesChinese (13,099),Bumiputeras (12,989) —Malays (7,321); others (mainlyOrang Aslis (5,688) —Indians (6,988), non-Malaysian citizens (5,193), and othernationalities (202).^[22] Most of the residents are entrepreneurs, service industry employees, farm workers, retirees or government servants.

Previously contested as part ofKuala Lipis, parliamentary representation for Cameron Highlands was granted in 2004. Though named as such, theCameron Highlands also covers a few areas that are outside the ward. For instance, theFELDA settlement of Sungai Koyan, which is represented by the Cameron Highlands in the federal parliament, is located in the district ofKuala Lipis. The Cameron Highlands itself contributes two seats to thePahang State Legislative Assembly —Tanah Rata andJelai. The Tanah Rata constituency covers the entire district of the Cameron Highlands; the Jelai constituency covers the western part ofKuala Lipis which includes Sungai Koyan and some otherFELDA settlements.

The Cameron Highlands is one of the 11 districts ofPahang. Occupying an area of 712 square kilometres (275 sq mi), the district comprises three townships and five settlements.^[23] Tucked up high in the Pahangese andPerakian sections of theTitiwangsa Mountains, the mountainous spine ofPeninsular Malaysia, it owes its present standing to its location at a high altitude (generally between 800 metres (2,600 ft) to 1,603 metres (5,259 ft) above sea level).^[24] There are eight mountains (gunung inMalay) at the retreat. They are Mts.Brinchang (2,031 metres (6,663 ft)), Berembun (1,840 metres (6,040 ft)),Irau (2,091 metres (6,860 ft)), Jasar (1,696 metres (5,564 ft)), Mentigi (1,563 metres (5,128 ft)), Perdah (1,576 metres (5,171 ft)) and Siku (1,916 metres (6,286 ft)).^[25] Mount Swettenham (1,961 metres (6,434 ft)) is located on its border withKelantan. At the top ofMount Brinchang is a radio and television station. It was constructed by theBritish in the early 1950s. Close to it is the famedmossy forest. The trail to the forest starts from theBOH Sungei Palas Tea Plantation. It takes about 15 minutes to reach thecloud forest by road.

Cameron Highlands is unique compared to the other hill stations in Malaysia — three river systems drain it with numerous tributaries (totaling 123).^[26] Their high points serve as the water catchment for thePahang andPerak rivers (Malay:Sungai Pahang andSungai Perak).^[25]

Overall, much of the retreat is still forested (estimated at 71%). Jungle trails lead visitors to tranquil spots, waterfalls, and aboriginal villages.^[27] Most of the tracks begin atTanah Rata. There are more than ten paths to pick and choose from. Depending on its distance, some routes can take as long as five hours to cover. Apart from its numerous walks,^[28] the sanctuary is also known for its native inhabitants, theOrang Asli, who rely on the land for subsistence farming, hunting, and fishing. Many have left to take up residence in the nearby towns. There are still some who prefer to treat the woods as their home.^[10]: 20 To date, there have been many changes at the resort. During the colonial era, the county was developed to be "a healthy hill station similar toNuwara Eliya."^[13] Today, it is different. During the Post-Independence Period (1957–1973), vast tracts of land were cleared for agriculture and infrastructure development. After 1974, more land was cleared for agriculture, housing projects, power plants, logging activities, livestock farming, hotel construction, small-scale industries, human resettlement, and road building.^[25] There is no doubt that some advances have brought economic benefits. This, however, has come with a price. Over the years, the "development (in this area) has been at the expense of the weather and the environment," as well as the indigenous communities' consent.^[29]

Cameron Highlands is one of the few places in Malaysia that serves as a habitat for a wide variety offlora andfauna, as well as hosting a totally different ecosystem. There are more than 700 species of plants that grow here.^[25] The vegetation changes as one ascends themountain. The ward is known for its tea growing, vegetable farms and flower nurseries.^[30] Its woodlands form the prevailing naturalecosystem within and around the prefecture. Of the fauna, theSumatran serow,mountain peacock-pheasant andMalayan whistling-thrush are listed in the 2004IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.^[25] In 1958, the outpost was declared as deer reserve. Four years later, it became a venue affording protection to animals and birds.

Cameron Highlands features asubtropical highland climate with uniform precipitation (Köppen climate classificationCfb).^[31] Its mean annual temperature is 18 °C (64 °F). During the day, the temperature seldom rises over 25 °C (77 °F); at night, it can drop to as low as 9 °C (48 °F) at the higher reaches.^[10]: 19 Its yearly precipitation is more than 2,700 mm (110 in). The lowest temperature recorded was on Wednesday, 1 February 1978 – the temperature dropped to 7.8 °C (46.0 °F) at an altitude of 1,471.6 metres above sea level.^[32]

The Cameron Highlands can be accessed by road viaTapah,Simpang Pulai,Gua Musang or Sungai Koyan.^[34]Tapah andSimpang Pulai are the two approaches fromPerak.Gua Musang and Sungai Koyan are the entryways fromKelantan and Pahang, respectively.

Until the 1990s the only access road to the Cameron Highlands was byFederal Route 59 which begins inTapah,Perak.^[35] In 2004, a new access road was opened —Federal Route 185 — connectingSimpang Pulai (about a kilometre south ofIpoh,Perak) through the northern part of the Highlands andGua Musang in southernKelantan before terminating in Kampung Kuala Jenderis inHulu Terengganu,Terengganu.

By 2010 a third access route was opened —Federal Route 102 — connectingRinglet toFELDA Sungai Koyan, nearKuala Lipis. With the opening of this route, motorists from the other parts of Pahang (especiallyKuantan) are now able to access the district of Cameron Highlands without having to leave the state.^[35] There is another route to the hill station — the Pahang State Route (C5). It links Sungai Koyan toRaub which is the gateway toFraser's Hill.

As with most of western Pahang, the Cameron Highlands is not served by anyKTM railway station, the closest being inKuala Lipis andTapah Road. Nevertheless, several bus services connect the Highlands to the cities and towns, such asSingapore,Kuala Lumpur,Ipoh,Penang andTapah.

List of Cameron Highlands district representatives in the Federal Parliament (Dewan Rakyat)

List of Cameron Highlands district representatives in the State Legislative Assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri)

• Geography of Malaysia
• Environment of Malaysia
• Landmarks in Cameron Highlands
• Settlements in Cameron Highlands

• Moore, Wendy Khadijah (2004).Malaysia: A Pictorial History 1400–2004. Archipelago Press.ISBN 981-4068-77-2.
• Shennan, Margaret (2000).Out in the Midday Sun: The British in Malaya 1880–1960.John Murray Publishers Ltd.ISBN 0-7195-5716-X.
• Rodrigo, Jennifer (1996).Malaysia: The Beautiful.New Holland Publishers Ltd.ISBN 1-85368-744-8.
• Day, J. David (1990).Malaysia: Gemstone of Southeast Asia. Tropical Press Sdn. Bhd.ISBN 967-73-0042-3.

Wikimedia Commons has media related toCameron Highlands.

Cameron Highlands travel guide from Wikivoyage

• Cameron Highlands Website
• Official website of Cameron Highlands District Council
• Official website of Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (R.E.A.C.H.)
• Rancangan Tempatan Daerah Cameron Highlands 2030 (Penggantian)

• Cameron Highlands
• Hills of Malaysia
• Hill stations in Malaysia
• Landforms of Pahang
• Titiwangsa Mountains
• Tourist attractions in Pahang
• Highlands

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