AS land disputes arise over durian plantations in Orang Asli ancestral lands, defensive growers said they’re planting with state governments’ approval. 

The demand for the king of fruits has been booming in the Chinese market, resulting in planters allegedly violating Orang Asli land to plant the fruit for export.

The Malaysian Insight recently reported that an orchard in Pahang is operating on land claimed by the Temiar tribe in court.

Despite this, the tribe is not making a sen from the orchard.

Dulai Fruits Enterprise managing director Eric Chan said although more people are joining the durian industry, orchards are only being set up in land approved by the state government.

“These problems (land disputes) do happen frequently, but it is impossible for orchard owners to grow plants indiscriminately, especially on greenfield land,” he said.

“The state government has a process where it approves of places where durians can be planted,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Such problems did not occur in the past as the fruit was grown on state-approved land, he said.

“I did hear that the situation in Kelantan is quite serious. It may be that there are more Orang Asli and Thais there.

“However, as far as I know, the situation is that the land has landlords but they have not planted on the land, and the Orang Asli also happen to live nearby. The cultivation of the fruits has affected the lives of the Orang Asli.”

Chan, who has been planting durian for more than a decade, has a 40ha orchard in Raub. Many Orang Asli living near these durian orchards usually work there, he said.

Chan himself employs many Orang Asli in his orchard.

He said orchards are in remote areas where it is difficult to source manpower. Hence, many owners hire Orang Asli who live around the area.

“Orang Asli people also want to earn. Instead of hunting and growing vegetables to sustain a living, it is better to ask them to work to meet their needs and improve their living standards, which is also a win-win situation.”

He suggested that orchard owners should make a win-win arrangement with the Orang Asli in the area to avoid land disputes.

Malaysian Durian Exporters Association president Sam Tan told The Malaysian Insight that there have been many land disputes in the last four to five years but it is unclear if all involved Orang Asli.

For example, Pahang approved land for orchards, he said.

“This actually happened 30 years ago. They had cultivated the musang king without the government’s approval. After the fruits were harvested, the state government gave the land to the growers which caused dissatisfaction.”

In the past, the business was not as profitable as it is now whereby it takes eight to 10 years to harvest, hence very few people are willing to invest.

“Musang king is particularly difficult to grow and needs a suitable land.”

The durian market has expanded in the past five years with musang king, which used to cost between RM3 and RM5 per kg now going for almost RM100.

“D24 durian used to be 30 sen per kg. Kampung durian used to be RM2 for a large bag, but now all prices have increased.”

When more players start seeing the commercial value of the business, land disputes will naturally happen, he added. – June 30, 2020.