Durian Farmers Mull Out Of Court Settlement To Shift Focus On New Land Dispute

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 Save Musang King Alliance president Wilson Chang accuses a newly established firm of encroaching on durian farms in Raub.
The Save Musang King Alliance said it is exploring the possibility of legal action against the new company which it alleges is encroaching the durian farmland. (Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: The Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) is considering an out-of-court settlement with Royal Pahang Durian Resources (RPD) to redirect its resources against a new company accused of taking over farmland
Samka president Wilson Chang claimed that a newly established firm has occupied farms without consent, evicted farmers, tagged trees, and refused to present any legal documents showing authorised operations.
“There is strong reason to believe that the firm intends to harvest durians during this season and profit from the hard work of local farmers, without any compensation,” he said in a statement.
Chang said the group and its lawyers are exploring the possibility of legal action against the company to stop their actions and protect the farmers’ rights.
“We reaffirm our core belief that the land is the lifeblood of our farmers, and that every tree represents years of hard labour and care. No corporation should be allowed to exploit this without consequence,” he said.
He claimed that the new firm may be targeting control of some 2,400ha of farmland, exceeding the area previously contested with RPD. The trees and potential harvest involved are believed to be worth more than RM100 million.
Chang said records from the Companies Commission of Malaysia showed that the company’s directors are from Penang and Sarawak, and that the firm is less than a year old.
He questioned how such a large tract of land could be granted to outsiders and called on the Pahang government to explain.
He said that while talks with RPD have not fully met the farmers’ demands, there has been “meaningful progress” after five years of resistance by Musang King durian farmers in Raub.
“Among the gains are better pricing terms, including an increase in the price of Grade A durians from RM30 per kg in 2020 to RM35 today, and clearer grading standards to ensure fairer payments to farmers,” he said.
He said negotiations with RPD are ongoing, and the alliance respects the decision of farmers who choose not to register with the firm.
Last month, Pahang ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah emphasised that state land must not be arbitrarily encroached upon, and called for firm action against those involved.
He also called for an amicable resolution, with all shortcomings addressed in a harmonious manner. - FMT

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