PKPS issued a memo on Aug 25 last year to 37 farmers in Selangor Fruit Valley, asking them to move out. — Filepic
SOME operators running farms at Selangor Fruit Valley (SFV) in Bestari Jaya, Kuala Selangor, are questioning the maximum 10-year operating period set by Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS).
One of them, who did not want to be named, said when he joined SFV in 2014, he was not told that he could only lease the land for a maximum of 10 years.
“In the agreement I signed, it stated that options for renewal would be evaluated based on my performance, commitment and seriousness in running my farming business there.
Lee wants PKPS to reconsider its decision asking him to vacate.
“It was only in 2023 that PKPS issued a memo informing farmers of this additional condition.
“I invested a lot of money and resources to run my farm there over the years.
“The additional condition by PKPS is unfair,” said the farmer, who moved out after the contract expired.
The memo was issued by PKPS to 37 farmers in SFV on Aug 25, 2023.
It stated that the 10-year maximum operating period was to provide room and opportunity for others to venture into the agricultural field as well as support PKPS’ mission to develop SFV into Selangor’s food production hub.
Another farmer, Lee Chee Fan, also expressed his unhappiness with PKPS for not renewing his contract which ended on Aug 31, 2024.
He said that PKPS only issued him a notice dated Jan 25 this year informing him that the agreement had ended.
The notice also stated that PKPS would take vacant possession of the land between Feb 10 and March 12 this year.
Lee wrote a letter to PKPS on Feb 27 asking them to reconsider and requested a meeting with officers to discuss the matter.
However, the letter went unanswered.
Lee then received another notice on April 15 ordering him to vacate the land and to return it to PKPS within seven days, a period he deemed insufficient.
“After the April 15 notice expired, PKPS officers questioned why I had not vacated the land.
“I told them that I had reached out to the Selangor government to ask for an extension (to continue operating there),” he told StarMetro when met at his nursery in Sungai Buloh.
Lee questioned why he was being forced to move out as he had been operating his farm in SFV for 10 years.
“I have invested a lot of money to run my farm, purchasing equipment and paying salaries to my eight workers there.
“PKPS should not ask me to leave just like that.
“What are PKPS’ plans for the land after we move out?
“If it is for agricultural purposes, the need for new land is not urgent as there is still a lot of space available there,” said Lee whose crops include lemongrass, calamansi, cassava (ubi kayu), lady’s finger, cucumber, bittergourd and banana.
Located in the town formerly known as Batang Berjuntai, SFV was developed by PKPS, a subsidiary of the Selangor government.
It features an agro-tourism park where visitors can get a taste of agricultural life in an educational setting and taste fresh produce sold by local farmers.
PKPS had not responded to requests for comments at press time.
