KUALA LUMPUR – The thorny issue of the Raub durian farmers continues as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) recorded statements from eight of them today.
This is to facilitate the MACC’s investigations into a dispute between the durian farmers and the Pahang Forestry Department and state government regarding unlicensed orchards.
Collin Arvind Andrew, the lawyer representing the durian farmers, said the questioning began at 10.30am and ended at 2.30pm.
In a video shared by the Save Musang King Alliance, Collin said that none of the farmers was arrested.
The Vibes also contacted Kar Yan Chong, another lawyer who represents the farmers, and she explained that those summoned for questioning were not suspects but were merely assisting in the investigations.
On what the MACC was investigating based on the queries posed to the farmers, Kar said: “Given that this is currently at the investigation stage and no charges have been brought forward, there’s no reason for MACC to inform of what offence they are investigating.”
On July 11, the Forestry Department destroyed some 15,000 durian trees at the Batu Talam Forest Reserve in Raub.
This occurred despite contentions by 18 durian farmers that the authorities violated an interim order by the Court of Appeal prohibiting any enforcement in the area.
Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail, however, denied such allegations stating that the enforcement activities were performed outside lands involved in the interim order.
This was followed by Tras assemblyman Chow Yu Hui slamming the Pahang state government saying it had told “a blatant lie” with the excuse that it wanted to protect the forest reserve.
The state government had already degazetted 1,213ha of forest reserve land previously and leased it to the Royal Pahang Durian consortium, Chow said. – The Vibes, July 13, 2021
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