Natural Resources and Environment Minister G Palanivel’s claim, as reported widely, is indeed most puzzling if not alarming. One cannot help wondering then if the spirits and hantu have taken over Cameron Highlands.

And if true, when will the rest of the country be ruled by these evil spirits?

While claiming that he “knows of the existence of a mastermind behind the illegal land-clearing in Cameron Highlands which led to the flash flood and landslides there”, the minister asserts that he “cannot say much”.

Oh my God, what are were coming to these days? You know and yet cannot reveal or comment, let alone take drastic action?

The Cameron Highlands tragedy is no small isolated act of God, please. We lost five lives in the never before incident of an avalanche of mud on Nov 5, 2014, not to mention the mass evacuation of people and loss to properties.

And the minister now goes to the extent of adding to the mystery surrounding the tragedy. He is reported to have said that he “cannot say much” even though he seems to suggest that he has photographic evidence.

Hello Malaysia, it looks like even power-packed ministers are afraid to tell the rakyat the whole truth.

Then, it must be some great taiko who is ruling our ministers or have the spirits and gins really taken over this country?

Going by the report, this minister of ours is reported having said to reporters present, “Now, however, something is happening, I am still unable to control them.”

And a minister is “unable to control” those culprits? Then it could only be jins and demons la.

Rakyat, can we take these kinds of stories? Is this why we voted our politicians for? For how long more must the rakyat scream and scream for transparency and accountability and only to be told that even ministers cannot tell the whole truth?

Maybe our politicians prefer speaking in tongues? Or are the rakyat taken for suckers?

What Honorable Minister Palanivel is reported to have said is: “They always complain to me that the hill is being disturbed, the only thing is, ‘something is behind something’, which I cannot reveal too much. I have a few photographs, but I cannot talk too much about it. They are doing some illegal works, this happened (over) the last 10, five years,” he said.

My, my and if you knew about these “illegal works” these past 10 years, are you saying that you have betrayed the rakyat and the nation by failing to get the relevant parties to immediately put a stop to these treacherous works?

Pray someone tell or help ask the minister concerned if spirits and demons are overtaking us.