No Court Order Breached In Chopping Down Musang King Trees Says Pahang Govt

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Personnel from Pahang’s enforcement unit, the police, forestry department and land office reportedly entered the orchard at around 11am yesterday to chop down the durian trees. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA: The Pahang government has denied breaching any court order by chopping down about 200 Musang King durian trees in Raub yesterday.
The state government’s legal adviser, Saiful Edris Zainuddin, said the Save Musang King Alliance’s (Samka) claim that the felling of the trees was against a court decision was baseless, Sinar Harian reported.
“Their applications (to gain access to the orchards) were previously rejected by the High Court and Court of Appeal. Therefore, the land legally belongs to the state government,” he was quoted as saying.
Saiful said the state decided to chop down the trees to tackle encroachment on the land, and reiterated that it was ready to face any accusations in court.
In July 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed the application of 131 Musang King farmers from Raub to gain access to their orchards to maintain and cultivate the durian trees pending the outcome of their appeal against an eviction order.
The appellate court also granted the Pahang Agricultural Development Corporation’s application to be discharged of the responsibility of maintaining the trees.
It said the farmers should have sought a stay order at the High Court under Section 43 of the Courts of Judicature Act 1964.
Samka had accused the state government of breaching a court order by chopping down the durian trees.
Its adviser, DAP’s Raub MP Chow Yu Hui, said personnel from Pahang’s enforcement unit, the police, forestry department and land office had entered the orchard at around 11am yesterday to chop down the trees. - FMT

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