A group of farmers lodged a police report at the Ipoh police headquarters today alleging that a developer was "planning to destroy" their farms located near Chemor, some 40kms from Ipoh.

The farmers, who lodged the report against Fair Factor Sdn Bhd, said they were also fearful that police would assist the developer in evicting them from their land.

The farmers became embroiled in a controversy with state authorities when they received a letter of eviction from the Ipoh land office on June 27 last year asking them to vacate the land within 21 days.

The farmers then received a letter from land developer Fair Factor in October offering them each between RM200 to RM2,000 in compensation for their land.

In another letter sent last week, Fair Factor increased the compensation amounts to between RM2,000 and RM8,000 each. The farmers were also given the option of getting a housing lot each.

'Play me out'

Following the eviction notice, the farmers claim they have been constantly harassed by the developer, police and land office authorities.

Khong said that in September last year, Perak Menteri Besar Tajol Rosli had assured the farmers that they will not be asked to vacate the land until the matter of compensation was settled.

When contacted, Fair Factor project manager Wayne Chew told malaysiakini that he was not aware of the farmers' grouses.

When asked about the compensation offers made to the farmers, Chew said the farmers had not chosen any of the options offered to them. He also alleged that the farmers could be trying to 'play me out'.