THE temperature is rising in the case of Raub durian growers who have been operating without valid land titles, even though the Pahang government has suspended its plans to take action against illegal farms.

Barricades were erected at the entrance to these orchards yesterday, with police saying state Land and Mines Office personnel and Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd representatives were conducting a survey and taking measurements. Officers said the road closure was just temporary.

The Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) is concerned about the latest developments, and believes that the state government’s decision to lease land in Raub to the newly formed Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP, a private company under Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Pahang and the Royal Pahang Durian Group, with a lopsided contract for farmers, is aimed at privatising the land in question, which sidelines farmers who have been struggling to obtain permits.

It was reported that the contract requires farmers to pay a land tax of RM6,000 per 0.4ha to Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP – a drastic increase from the RM50 fee previously imposed by the state.

KLSCAH calls on the Pahang government to resolve the dispute in the interest of the country’s agriculture sector and local farmers, as well as renegotiate the terms of the unfair contract.

KLSCAH deems the culture of rent-seeking in Putrajaya and businesses responsible for enabling government agencies to intervene and regulate economic activities in grey areas, leading to the monopolisation of resources. Such action hinders healthy competition. It allows the minority elite to make huge profits, while exploiting those in the lower classes.

The state government should resolve the dispute via a mutual agreement and hold a dialogue with the affected farmers, some of whom are Malay.

It is noteworthy that many of them were spurred to cultivate land in Raub by the Green Book Programme initiated by second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein to ensure self-sufficiency. Pahang’s use of pressure and coercion demonstrates its lack of support for farmers, which is provided for under Green Book initiatives.

The issue surrounding Pahang durian farms has been around for a long time, with many a politician using it to secure votes by promising to grant permits. Such promises remain empty to this day.

KLSCAH believes that the state government’s delaying tactics will worsen the dispute, and calls on the administration to quickly organise talks with farmers. Otherwise, the issue will set a precedent for other agricultural land tussles caused by unfair policies, which could result in the domestic food supply chain being affected and hurt agricultural development. – August 26, 2020.

* Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.