PSM chief, three others arrested in Tambun farmers' eviction row

The police have arrested four individuals, including PSM chairperson Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, for trying to stop the eviction of farmers in Kanthan, Tambun, in Perak.

The three others are PSM committee member R Karthiges, Perak PSM Youth member P Kesavan, and a farmer identified as Ho Pon Tien, said the party's deputy chairperson S Arutchelvan.

"The four tried to stop the eviction and were arrested. They are in the police truck now and have not been taken anywhere (yet).

"The authorities have started destroying the farms," Arutchelvan told Malaysiakini when contacted.

Earlier today, Malaysiakini reported that PSM activist Chong Yee Shan suffered injuries to her mouth and nose after being allegedly shoved by an officer from the Perak Land and Minerals Office (PTG) near a farm in Kanthan, Tambun.

PSM activist Chong Yee Shan was injured after being allegedly shoved by a PTG officer

This was after farmers and activists attempted to stop PTG officers who had come to the location with bulldozers and excavators to evict six farmers.

Following the incident, PSM urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to intervene to save the farmers who were facing forced eviction in his parliamentary constituency.

Elaborating, Arutchelvan said an officer from Anwar's Tambun office was at the site to try and bide for more time for the demolition, but to no avail.

Alternative land

A total of 200 farmers are involved in the farming sector in Kanthan, which is considered to be the single largest vegetable-producing region in the state.

The six farmers, who faced eviction today, received their eviction notices dated Oct 13, informing them their farms are located on land belonging to the Perak State Development Corporation and were ordered to vacate within a week.

The farmers agreed to abide by the order but asked the state government to offer them alternative land since they had toiled on the farms for a long time.

In the run-up to the last general election, the farmers told Malaysiakini they were hoping that the Pakatan Harapan chairperson would end their “nightmare”.

In an immediate response to the arrests, Muda's human rights bureau chief Dobby Chew called for the immediate release of the activists.

"We call for the immediate release of all activists involved in campaigning against eviction and demolition and for the Perak state government to fulfil its commitments to the farmers.

"It is disappointing that the Madani government's commitment and promises to uphold fundamental rights in line with the constitution have yet again failed to be fulfilled," said Chew, who lamented that activists who advocate for the common good were facing violence and state harassment.