PSM claims eviction notice for Perak farmers unlawful

 

Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, who was detained during the protest on Oct 24, said Section 425 of the National Land Code can only be used against trespassers using government land without permission.

PETALING JAYA: Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) has accused the Perak government of unlawfully evicting farmers from the Kanthan vegetable farm in Tambun, Perak.

PSM chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj said Section 425 of the National Land Code can only be used against trespassers using government land without permission.

He said this is not applicable to the farmers there as they have “implied consent” of land use since they settled down in Kanthan more than 70 years ago.

“The farmers established themselves in this area more than 70 years ago, and were permitted to use the land by both the colonial administration and the Malaysian government until two weeks ago.

“(As an example of this acknowledgment) Kanthan farmers were also given fertilisers by the state agricultural department before,” said Jeyakumar in a statement.

The former Sungai Siput MP criticised the state government for giving the farmers only one week to relocate following the eviction notice issued on Oct 13.

He added that PSM had filed a case in the Ipoh High Court to highlight the matter.

“We and the farmers from Area A, Kanthan, Tambun, are dissatisfied with the rude treatment of the Perak land and mines office (PTG) and Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) on Oct 24,” he added.

On Oct 24, Jeyakumar was arrested by police along with two PSM members and a farmer, in relation to a protest held at the Kanthan vegetable farm. The enforcement team also cleared the farmlands of all crops.

During the protest, a PSM activist named Chong Yee Shan was allegedly shoved by a PTG officer while she was attempting to stop bulldozers and excavators from carrying out the eviction order.

Chong was taken to the nearest hospital after sustaining injuries to her nose, mouth, legs and hands.

In the statement, Jeyakumar also responded to Perak PTG director Fariz Hanip’s claims that the farmers had been allocated another piece of land not far from this location a year ago because of the planned development.

Jeyakumar said the land was selected without consulting the farmers and they found the selected areas unsuitable for farming as they were “hilly and lack sufficient water sources”.

“We have informed PKNP and PTG of the matter but they have yet to have any discussion with us,” he said.

Tambun is in the parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. - FMT