KUANTAN: The Pahang government says it has no plans to “make life difficult” for durian farmers in Raub and was only acting in accordance with the law.
The state government is currently locked in a dispute with the durian farmers following a bid to streamline the state’s lucrative durian industry operations.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said the durian farmers should respect the law by vacating government land which they had been occupying illegally all these years.
“I want to stress that the state government has no plan to oppress the farmers.
“We are acting in line with the law and the farmers should comply by moving out of government land which they have been illegally occupying.
“The state government will remain steadfast and will not compromise in the illegal Musang King durian farmers issue.
“The Pahang government reiterates its stand and commitment to take stern action over land that was cultivated illegally by the durian farmers,” he said in a statement here today.
Wan Rosdy said the state government’s enforcement efforts had been postponed following the recent Kuantan High Court ruling on the matter.
On Aug 28, Judge Datuk Zainal Azman Ab Aziz allowed an application by 111 Musang King durian planters in Raub to obtain permission for a judicial review against a state government order and decision for them to vacate their farms, which was issued by the Raub District and Land Office and the Pahang Forestry Department.
The application hearing date is set for Oct 28.
Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said until the application was heard and decided by the High Court, the state government would have to temporarily postpone all enforcement efforts to clear the lands.
“The state government hopes that all quarters would extend their cooperation, especially the illegal farmers who were involved in Musang King farming activities in Raub,” he said.
A recent joint venture deal between Royal Pahang Durian Resources and PKPP Sdn Bhd (RPDR-PKPP) had upset durian farmers in Raub, who claimed that the deal would result in small-scale farmers incurring losses.
Tras assemblyman Chow Yu Hui had criticised the state government for disregarding the durian farmers’ livelihood.
He had claimed that the state government formulated an “unequal contract” which would sideline local farmers and severely impact the durian industry, leading to a possible “Musang King crisis”.
The state government said growing concerns over huge areas being cleared to cultivate Musang King durian trees in Raub led the state government to appoint RPDR-PKPP to help put an end to unbridled deforestation.
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