Roadblock stops unlicensed Raub durian growers from entering farms
Pahang enforcement authorities were said to have set up a roadblock at the entrance of unlicensed durian plantations in Raub this morning.
Several villagers in the area told Malaysiakini that they witnessed about 20 police officers arriving at Kampung Sungai Chalit in four-wheel-drive vehicles bearing police insignia.
The uniformed police were said to be joined by plainclothes officers who then set up a blockade across...
Pahang enforcement authorities were said to have set up a roadblock at the entrance of unlicensed durian plantations in Raub this morning.
Several villagers in the area told Malaysiakini that they witnessed about 20 police officers arriving at Kampung Sungai Chalit in four-wheel-drive vehicles bearing police insignia.
The uniformed police were said to be joined by plainclothes officers who then set up a blockade across the main road which serves as an entrance to many different durian farms.
A representative from the Royal Pahang Durian Resources (RPDR) was also spotted at the scene where the roadblock was being set up, said a villager.
According to the villagers and durian growers, some of the unlicensed durian farmers had previously bought their "entry permits" from RPDR at the price of RM1,000 per acre of land (RM404 per hectare).
Therefore, some of the durian growers were allowed to enter their farms.
When contacted, Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) president Wilson Chang confirmed that the roadblock was set up at the main road around 11am this morning.
Farmers told closure is temporary
A police officer was said to have told the farmers that the road was just "temporarily closed" for today. The reason given was land office officials and RPDG representatives wanted to carry out land surveys and mapping.
"The police told us that the road was just closed temporarily because people from the land office and Royal Pahang Durian wanted to go in and measure the land," said Chang.
In a video taken by a villager, a police officer explained their duty was to ensure the safety of land office officials and representatives from RPDR. The officer in the video claimed the roadblock was only set up for today.
Meanwhile, Chang explained that the road, which is being blocked, is the only main road in the village leading to many different durian farms, which included legal and illegal ones.
There were a few legal farm owners who were impeded from entering their property by the roadblock this morning. They were able to gain access after producing their land grant documents and after some negotiation with the police, Chang said.
Later, Samka issued a media statement criticising the Pahang government for breaking their promise of postponing enforcement.
"The police officer even shouted loudly and threatened to arrest the farmers under Section 168 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant in discharge of his public functions. The police also expelled the farmers from the restricted area."
"If RPDG is sincere to work with the farmers, they should not set up a roadblock to stop farmers from doing their daily work, and should not make them frightened and also cause some possible loss," read the statement.
The local farmers' alliance also stressed that they would not give up their rights to protect their farms and said they have brought the issue to the court.
The Pahang state government previously announced that the land the farmers were illegally occupying would be leased to a joint venture, Royal Pahang Durian Resources-PKPP Sdn Bhd (RPDR-PKPP).
This was being done in order to “legalise” the land.
RPDR is a group of companies linked to Pahang royalty. RPDR-PKPP is a joint venture between Royal Pahang Durian Resources Sdn Bhd and state-owned Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Pahang (PKPP).
The joint venture was reportedly formalised in March with the objective of operating the country’s largest durian-processing centre slated for completion by June 2021.
RPDR, in an interview with Malay Mail, had denied the accusations of initiating an exploitative agreement with the Musang King durian farmers.
It stressed that RPDR-PKPP had been awarded the lease and rights to 5,357 acres of land in Raub for 30 plus 30 years and claimed that 30 percent of the land had been encroached.
A joint statement by RPDR-PKPP also highlighted the importance of regulating the local durian market to avoid the influence of foreign investors which could spell the end for local producers.
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