Thorny issue of Raub durian farmers

 

Anyone with the flimsiest knowledge of growing durians knows that it takes many years of tender loving care to grow and nurture healthy fruit-bearing trees.

Last week, 18 farmers were arrested when they tried to harvest the fruit but were prevented by officials from the menteri besar’s office.

Despite the stand-off between the Musang King (MK) farmers of Raub and the state authorities, who said the farmers had illegally occupied the land, was it right for the state officials to cut down 200 mature trees at harvest time? This is revenge politics. It will not endear the rakyat to the authorities.

Why did the state and land office take this drastic action despite allowing the cultivation for many decades?

The story about the MK farmers is one that is common throughout Malaysia. Soon after Merdeka, when most of the country was barren jungle and covered in virgin forest, farmers were encouraged to work the land by the land office.

They were also told that they could apply for a temporary operating licence (TOL) or deeds to the land. The state preferred the land to be worked, and people to be self-sufficient instead of depending on welfare.

However, as in Raub, some farmers were unable to get the TOL or title deeds, despite repeated requests.

When MK sales took off in the last few years, and the People’s Republic of China was importing millions of ringgit worth of the fruit, many people eyed the land of these farmers.

One of the groups is a Pahang JV with reported links to VVIPs. The company is probably interested in the farmers’ trees because of world demand for MK, the mature fruit-bearing trees, the cleared land, the easy access, good drainage and irrigation, and the presence of small huts for storing tools and taking shelter, while waiting for the durians to fall.

The JV company has the right connections but despite this, the famers managed to get a court order to stop them being evicted.

So, why did the authorities move in and order armed personnel to protect the peace? This is harassment of the rakyat.

Some people accuse the Raub farmers of being illegal squatters. Others claim the Pahang JV group are greedy land grabbers.

They should also question the role of the land office, the forestry department, the menteri besar’s office and the agricultural board, or formerly Lembaga Kemajuan Perusahaan Pertanian (LKPP).

It is said that 50 years ago, LKPP promised each farmer two acres if they agreed to be resettled nearer to Raub and, at the same time, spy on members of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM).

The board did this as an incentive to the farmers to keep the army informed about the movements of the CPM, which was operating in the area.

The 80-year-old former village headman, Mohamad Ali, claims that the farmers agreed to be resettled, but to this day, not all of them have title deeds. He was the village chief in 1979.

So, why weren’t the durian farmers in Raub given first preference instead of the JV group?

The farmers have a direct bond with the land and their crops. They became successful and they did not depend on government handouts. Granting the ownership of the land to an unknown JV company has only increased the rakyat’s wrath.

Pahang should grant the farmers their land titles. This is not about might having rights. This is the mighty abusing the rakyat. - FMT

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.

✍ Credit given to the original owner of this post : ☕ Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

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