Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) gathered around 400 signatures today in under three hours for its petition to halt durian tree-felling operations by the Pahang State Enforcement Unit (UPNP) on disputed land.
The petition will be brought to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Pahang ruler Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, said Samka advisor and Raub MP Chow Yu Hui.
“Over 1,000 Musang King trees were bulldozed during the recent large-scale enforcement operations over the past three days.
“Many of the trees were over 40 years old, representing the life’s work of farmers,” Chow said in a statement.
Yesterday, durian farmers in Raub clashed with UPNP personnel while the latter were clearing Musang King trees on disputed land near Sungai Klau.
On Wednesday (April 9), Malaysiakini reported that a group of durian farmers involved in a land dispute with the Pahang government claimed that the latter had violated a court order by cutting down about 200 Musang King trees.
In a response, the Pahang government denied it violated a court order, with state legal adviser Saiful Edris Zainuddin saying the trees were on illegally occupied land which meant the trees were not protected by the court order.
The Court of Appeal had also rejected the farmers’ application for a stay of an eviction order due to the applicants not following the correct legal procedure, Saiful said, reiterating that the land is owned by the government.
Chow said the Raub durian farmers have three demands including the immediate suspension of tree-felling operations, a call for negotiation, as well as a fair and sustainable alternative to eviction by force.
He said the problem of “illegal farms” is a national issue that involves tens of thousands of farmers working on untitled land.
“Farmers are willing to pay land taxes, rental, or other reasonable fees in accordance with the law. However, their applications for licenses over the years have been ignored.
“Therefore, they urge the state government to convene a roundtable discussion with farmers to seek a win-win solution that allows them to continue contributing to national agriculture and the local economy,” he said. - Mkini
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