TWENTY-THREE durian farmers from Raub, Pahang, have had their statements recorded by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over alleged abuse of power in illegal land encroachments.

Lawyer Samantha Chong Yin Xin told The Malaysian Insight  it’s unclear how many more farmers will be summoned by the graf-busters. 

“We don’t know the total number of durian farmers who will be called…it will depend on MACC,” she said.

She said the anti-graft agency issued notices to the farmers to appear at its offices, and these must be obeyed. 

“Those who have been served the notice must appear (to give a statement) or it is an offence (not to appear).

“The farmers are not called in not as suspects, but to assist in investigations.”

Yesterday, the Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) said 18 farmers gave their statements to the MACC in Raub, despite chief commissioner Azam Baki’s denial that any of them would be called.

Azam only confirmed that investigation papers had been opened into alleged abuse of power in the expansion of land for durian farms.

Samka said initially that 50 farmers would be called.

Yesterday, it said the remainder were expecting to be called for questioning today and tomorrow.

Chong said she could not disclose more information on what transpired when farmers met MACC officials as it was part of investigations.

“The information is confidential under the law so it cannot be disclosed.” 

Samka, representing durian farmers whose orchards are in Kg Sg Ruan, Sg Chalit and Sg Klau, is locked in a dispute with the Pahang government over the state’s attempts to “legalise” land that had been encroached on illegally for durian farms.

The state is doing so by awarding  the lease and rights to 2,168ha of land in Raub to Royal Pahang Durian, a joint venture between Royal Pahang Durian Resources (RPDR) and the state government’s Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Pahang (PKPP).

Among the terms of an agreement between the company and the farmers, the farmers are to pay hefty levies for the land and to sell Grade A Musang King durian to only the company, at below market price.

Samka has called the deal lopsided and unfair.

Farmers in Kg Sg Ruan, Sg Chalit and Sg Klau have been granted an injunction to stay an eviction notice issued by the state. – September 16, 2020.