[UPDATED] Evicted Raub durian farmers in stand-off with state authorities

KUALA LUMPUR – Enforcement officers from the Raub Land Office, Forestry Department and the police are evicting a group of durian farmers who were served a red notice to vacate their farm before yesterday.

In a tip-off given to The Vibes, pictures and videos showed the farmers in a stand-off with the authorities.

A call to the district Forestry office confirmed that an operation to evict them is currently in progress.

While an office spokesman was not able to provide more details, The Vibes was informed that the eviction relates to a court decision. The spokesman also said the operation is led by the Pahang State Secretary Office.

In a series of pictures shared online, authorities are seen armed and blocking an access road with a convoy of their vehicles.

On December 23, the Kuantan High Court had dismissed an application by 204 Musang King durian farmers for a judicial review against the land eviction notice issued to them by the state government.

The group, called the Save Musang King Alliance (Samka), comprise durian farmers without permits in Raub. It had said the Court of Appeal had granted a stay order today.

Earlier, Samka said it received eviction notices on December 21 while Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Pahang (PKPP) handed it a similar notice on December 1.

The unlicenced farmers have been in conflict with the state government since rejecting the decision to allow Royal Pahang Durian Resources-PKPP Sdn Bhd (RPDR-PKPP) to draft the contract, which Samka has called exploitative.

Last Thursday, 50 farmers lodged a police report in an effort to put a stop to eviction enforcement, including planned road blocks by the authorities at the farms.

It was reported that the high court had on August 28 granted a stay until October 28 against enforcement action and eviction of the 110 durian farmers pending hearing of the judicial review leave application.

The farms are dotted across Raub, including in Sg Ruan, Sg Chalit, Sg Klau, covering about 2,167ha. – The Vibes, January 5, 2021