KUANTAN: The Pahang government has adopted a rational approach to tackle widespread land encroachment involving Musang King durian farmers in Raub instead of completely tearing down the illegal farms.
State Agriculture, Agro-Based Industry and Biotechnology committee chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Soffi Abd Razak (BN-Benta) said such action was crucial to bring an end to unregulated land clearing activities at government lands including forest reserve.
"Encroaching government land is an offence and the state government has been considerate when dealing with the issue in Raub. Although we have laws this has been happening for quite some time resulting losses to the state government and encouraging others to do the same (illegally clear government land).
"As stipulated under the law, Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Pahang (PKPP) was already planning to demolish the illegal durian plantations but the Menteri Besar (Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail) wanted a more rational approach. We set up a special purpose vehicle instead to tackle the issue," he said in his reply to a supplementary question from Lee Chean Chung (PKR- Semambu) at the one-day Pahang state assembly sitting here today.
Lee had asked if the state government had held any discussion with the Musang King durian farmers in Raub on the proposal by Royal Pahang Durian Group (RPD) and its partner State Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPP).
Soffi said the "legalisation approach" was an initiative by the state government to work with the state-owned agriculture agency, PKPP and a private entity to ensure the farmers could continue working on their durian farms.
"If the enforcement team had gone into the illegal farms they would have demolished it. But we gave the farmers an opportunity. This approach is seen as considerate and the farmers do not end up empty handed....(still) we cannot encourage the culture of working illegally on government lands.
"I hope all the state assemblymen including those from the opposition will support the state government's efforts to tackle land encroachment issues by providing accurate explanation to the people," he said.
Soffi also said there were certain groups that were against the ideas but the state government could not satisfy everyone.
"Do not make land encroaching a habit. If you want land, fill the form and apply for it. If approval is not given, one must not trespass because the government will certainly take action," he said.
He said the move to "legalise" the plantations in Raub was vital as the General Administration of Customs China (GACC) which issues the permit for fruits to be exported to China, highlighted that Malaysian durians must be sourced from Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices (MyGAP)-certified farms.
"Importers from China require the My-GAP certification and if one fruit does not meet their standards then the entire container will be rejected. Due to the absence of valid land titles, farmers operating the illegal durian farms are not MyGAP-certified and they must operate on land approved by the government," he said.
During the winding up session, Lee said it would have been better if PKPP worked directly with the farmers instead of with middlemen (another companies).
Last month, Tras assemblyman Chow Yu Hui criticised the state government for disregarding durian farmers' livelihood by setting up Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd without consulting them.
He alleged that the state government formulated an unequal contract which would sideline local farmers and severely impact the durian industry, leading to a possible "Musang King crisis".
The state government in a statement said growing concerns over huge areas being cleared to cultivate Musang King durian trees in Raub led the state government to appoint Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd to help put an end to unbridled deforestation.