Deal offered to durian farmers is an opportunity to legalise, says association chairman

 

KUANTAN: Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd claims that a group of durian traders, processors and farmers representing the local Raub durian farmers without legal status has expressed support for its legalisation scheme.

The company said the group, led by Datuk Lye Wee Ken, who is also the Pahang Durian Traders Association chairman, remarked that the terms and conditions offered to the farmers were fair and reasonable.

"This is a good opportunity to legalise their farms. Farmers should seize this opportunity quickly.

"Whilst the scheme involves Royal Pahang Durian Group (RPDG) purchasing all of the farmers' durians, there is an agreement to allocate 40% of the produce to be bought back by the community of local traders or processors for their own trading," the company said in a statement Monday (Aug 9).

The company added that this 40% buy-back allocation would be led by Lye and his consortium of local associates.

"RPDG has also agreed that the entire durian collection and grading shall be handled by a group of local agents, also to be led by Lye and his consortium of local associates.

"The pricing, buy-back mechanisms, terms and grading specifications have all been discussed and agreed upon by all parties concerned," it said.

The company urged the remaining farmers without legal status to come forward and register their farms with Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd before the deadline of Aug 18.

A group of 204 durian planters without legal status had been seeking a judicial review on the notices issued to evict them from the lands in or around Sungai Ruan, Sungai Chalit, Sungai Klau, Tranum, Tras and the Gunung Benom forest reserve.

They also wanted a judicial review on the state government's decision to award a lease and rights to use 2,167.9ha of land in Raub to Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd for a period of 30 plus 30 years as well as the mandatory requirement that they sell their durians to an entity nominated by the joint venture company.

On Dec 23 last year, the Kuantan High Court dismissed their applications and the durian planters were now in the process of appealing the decision.

Recently, the state Forestry Department and the Pahang State Enforcement Unit, with the cooperation of the police, carried out an enforcement operation against illegal plantations in the Batu Talam permanent forest reserve.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail stressed that the operation did not violate a stay order from the Court of Appeal as it was carried out outside the durian orchards owned by Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd. - Star