Raub Musang King farmers moot four 'principles'

Malaysiakini:

Raub Musang King farmers moot four 'principles' to break deadlock

Following their altercation with the Pahang government over land rights last month, Raub Musang King farmers have come up with four “principles” to resolve the issue.

In a statement, they said adhering to these principles would ensure “mutual benefit” for both the farmers and the joint-venture firm comprising the government’s Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Pahang (PKPP) and royalty-linked Royal Pahang Durian Resources (RPDR).

Calling themselves the Raub Musang King Farmers’ Cooperative Preparatory Committee, their first request was for farmers to be recognised as “equal partners”.

“Any term of the agreement must be formulated and signed with the consent of both parties,” they stressed.

Their second principle was for the price of durians to be determined by market demand.

The joint venture firm previously put forward a "legalisation scheme" where it would buy Musang King durians from unlicensed farmers at fixed prices.





Hundreds of farmers opposed the scheme and lamented that these prices were too low.

“If the farmers are forced to sell their durian products to a corporation, this will cause a market monopoly.

“Anyone who controls most durian yields will determine the market price of durian according to their will and even reap extreme profits from exporting.

“At that time, durian farmers who have land permits will also be affected, and our people will have to buy durians at a higher rate,” the committee said.

Land tax, environment levy

They also proposed a land tax at a rate they deemed “reasonable”.

For unlicensed farms under 10 acres, they suggested an annual land tax rate of RM500 per acre.

For unlicensed farms of between 10 and 100 acres, they suggested an annual land tax rate of RM1,000 per acre.

“The farmers propose the signing of a lease agreement with the state government, with a lease term of 30 years plus 30 years to develop the durian industry sustainably together and to strengthen the position of Raub and Pahang state as the leading producer of Musang King durian to the world,” they added.

The joint venture firm had proposed granting subleases of 10 plus 10 plus 10 years, with a further 30-year extension, subject to approval for the unlicensed farmers.





The committee’s fourth proposal is to impose an “environmental protection levy”.

For unlicensed farms under 10 acres, they suggested a levy of RM100 per acre.

For unlicensed farms between 10 to 100 acres, they suggested a levy of RM200 per acre.

“We believe that the environmental protection levy will assist the state government in effectively monitoring any over-development and activities that threaten or contaminate the water catchment area.

“We also pledge to cooperate with the government to strictly monitor any farming activity that encroaches Orang Asli customary land and animal habitats,” they said.

The committee stressed that it welcomed cooperation with the state government, but wanted the farmers’ rights to be protected.

Among other things, the state government’s legislation scheme had proposed that farmers pay a “legalisation levy” for every kilogramme of durian, an entry permit to enter durian orchards as well as reparations, should they decide to stop farming.

The farmers previously protested the scheme and opined it was unfair towards them.

RPDR, meanwhile, has denied initiating exploitative agreements with the farmers.

On Aug 28, the farmers obtained an interim stay order against the Pahang government for the land legalisation scheme until the case is heard in court on Oct 28.

Earlier this month, the MACC summoned 18 Raub Musang King farmers for questioning in an investigation into the encroachment of state land by “illegal” durian orchards.