Thirteen Tambun pomelo growers at wits' end over eviction notices

IPOH: The 13 pomelo growers in Tambun evicted from their orchards are at their wits' end.

Tan Swee Kong, 55, a spokesman for the group, said the farmers had become jobless since March 10.

“Some of us have been toiling the land for more than 50 years, taking over the duties of our fathers.

“Now, we are suddenly denied a livelihood after being chased out,” he said during a press conference organised by PKR’s Simpang Pulai assemblyman Tan Kar Hing and Gopeng MP Dr Lee Boon Chye.

Some of the orchards located in Ampang fall under the Simpang Pulai state constituency.

It was reported on March 10 that the growers were hoping for more time to harvest the fruits before they vacated the premises.

The growers had, in December last year, received an eviction notice from MIED, MIC's education arm, to vacate the orchards.

In 2001, MIED received the land title for an 8ha piece of land where the orchards are located.

The 13 farmers occupying the land in Tambun and Ampang have more than 700 trees planted.

Swee Kong also claimed that Tambun MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu had not tried to find out what was happening to them.

He said it was disheartening to see the situation come to such an ending, when the growers have been contributing to the state’s economy for all these years.

“Tourists from more than 80 countries visit pomelo farms here as part of eco-tourism activities.

“For years, we have been asking the state government to make us legal farmers but nothing materialised.

“The pandemic created a huge impact on us, and now we are evicted,” he said.

Kar Hing said he had contacted the Perak Mentri Besar’s personal assistant a week ago to seek an appointment.

“When I get to meet the MB, I will put forward suggestions for alternative land to be provided to the affected farmers,” he said.

Dr Lee said the pomelo industry has been a Perak icon for decades.

“It is very sad to see what has happened to the farmers,” he added.

Dr Lee said he had used his parliamentary constituency allocation to give RM26,000 in total to the 13 farmers.

When contacted, Faizal said he was sympathetic towards their plight.

He said he would talk to the landowner as well as the state agencies involved to see what best could be done.

“I have met them before, maybe not all, but when I was the mentri besar, I definitely had conversations with them.

“I will try to suggest an alternative land if possible, especially for those who solely rely on the farming industry,” he added.

Efforts are being made to contact the Mentri Besar’s office.