GE15: Taking illegal farms issue to court shuts the door on talks, says Pahang exco member

RAUB: Taking the issue of illegal farms to court is tantamount to closing the door to negotiations between the farmers involved and the Pahang government, says Datuk Abd Aziz Mat Kiram.

The Pahang rural development and Orang Asli affairs committee chairman said when the matter goes to court, no one can interfere and can only wait until the legal process is completed.

He also said farmers need to understand that it was illegal to use state land designated as permanent forest reserves for agricultural activities.

"The farmers involved have resorted to suing the state government.

"At that point, even when the village committee or MCA wanted to help, they could not," he said during a dialogue with 27 fruit farmers at a hotel here on Friday (Nov 18).

Abd Aziz said that in the past, when illegal farms faced legal action, MCA managed to help find a solution.

"The mentri besar then took a soft approach and did not initiate any harsh action," he said.

But in the latest case, where hundreds of acres of land have been illegally cultivated, the state had no choice but to follow and respect the court's decision.

"The state understands that people just want to earn a living... and could perhaps 'close one eye' if it was on a small scale.

"Because there were complaints, the state had to do something," he said.

Pahang Fruit Farmers Association president Melissa Yap, who was also present, called on the state government to understand the farmers' predicament.

"More than 80% of agricultural activities in the state are on illegal farms.

"We hope the authorities will understand and allow these farmers to continue operating on a land lease deal with the state government," she said.

Yap, who is also Malaysian Fruit Farmers Association deputy president, said that such a win-win solution would allow both the state and the farmers to have income.

However, she said budding farmers should find ways to operate legally to avoid having their farms torn down.

Tras Chinese new village chief Lim Teck Hoe said there had been cases where farmers asked them to help liaise with the state government.

"However, it's already a court case. I strongly believe that with the right approach, the state government is willing to give farmers a chance," he said.

MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon concurred, adding that he hoped the farmers would opt for an amicable way to resolve the issue.