Durian farmers, including teen, remanded, DAP reps cross swords with cop
Tempers flared when DAP representatives present at the Raub Magistrates’ Court in Pahang became embroiled in a heated argument with the police during an online press conference.
Earlier, the court had granted a two-day remand order against 18 durian farmers, including a 17-year-old teenager, to facilitate the Forestry Department's investigations into an alleged trespassing offence.
Their lawyer, Chan Yen Hui, said the department had initially requested that the farmers, who were detained yesterday, be remanded for four days.
She said the argument that the department needed time to record their statements and to verify the status of the alleged farms did not hold water as the department has sufficient human resources.
“The department should have obtained the information (on the land status) before the (submitting) remand application.
“...The farmers also cooperated with the police and were given police bail as well. There is no reason to remand them,” she added during the press conference.
Chan said the department might seek an extension of the remand order but urged the court to free her clients after the 48-hour period expires.
She also claimed that the police did not arrest them according to procedure.
Another lawyer, Samantha Chong, alleged that the authorities did not inform the teenager’s parents of his arrest and this was against the law.
She also expressed concern over the teenager being detained in a lock-up amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the lawyers, the 18 were arrested under Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant from discharging his or her duties and Section 47 of the National Forestry Act 1984.
DAP representatives including Raub MP Tengku Zulpuri Puji, Bentong MP Wong Tack, Sungai Pelek assemblyperson Ronnie Liu, Tras assemblyperson Chow Yu Hui and Bilut assemblyperson Lee Chin Chen were also present in court.
Police had also detained Chow together with the farmers but he was released on bail later.
Towards the end of the press conference, a police officer instructed the crowd to dismiss, leading to a heated argument between him as well as Zulpuri, Wong and Liu.
Police also stopped Liu’s car but he was later allowed to leave after Zulpuri intervened.
The Pahang state government has accused the cultivators of illegal farming and is attempting to evict them as it had leased the land to a firm that is planning its own durian plantation.
The firm, Royal Pahang Durian Resources-PKPP Sdn Bhd (RPDR-PKPP), is a joint venture between the state government and a company linked to the Pahang royalty.
The latest flare-up started when the farmers tried to harvest their produce on the disputed land but were blocked by the Forestry Department and police.
The farmers maintained that they have a right to enter the land since the Court of Appeal had issued a stay against their eviction.
This is pending their appeal against the decision of the High Court in Kuantan dismissing their bid for a judicial review against the eviction notice.
Related:
(2) "Gold" robbery in Raub, the "gold" of Musang King durians
(3) Samka accuses RPDR-PKPP of kerbau
Polis should not behave like Bully. If land ownership is in dispute all sides should sit down and negotiate like civilised people, not use strong arm tactics and bully the weak neighbours like in Southern Seas. This land is valuable, produce delicious durians, like the Southern Seas is rich with O&G and ikan bilis.
ReplyDeleteWakakakakaka…
DeleteWhat a f*cked twist to yr rant of land ownership dispute via bullying.
"This land is valuable"
And there r ongoing negotiations whete no other involving countries can produce ANY historical documentations to support their claims like China! All the other disputants do r using The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to substantiate their claims based on proximity. Whereas the established historical claim that have a precedent legality is totally ignored!
Who r the bully here, mfer?
Keep these words in yr fart clouded mind for yr future pleasure reference whenever the same subject comes up!
This is Malaysia where the rich and powerful hold sway.
DeleteTheir greed knows no bounds
Royal Pahang is led by the Agong's family, MD is his daughter.
ReplyDeleteDAP will be labelled as Derhaka , as usual.
The other board members are well-connected Cinapek out for Rentier business.
Chinese screw Chinese....wakakakaka
TongSampah still screeching away about Chyna, Chyna ?? even when the topic of discussion is about durian ? hehe...these bunch of OCBCs bananas sama sma la, balik balik mesti ketuk Chyna otherwise, tak puas hati ...btw, have you noticed how peaceful here now when that Batshit OCBC took some needed rest ? Pls have a longer rest OK ? Heard there's many suffering from side effects of Pfizer vaccine jabs, hehe.
ReplyDeleteThat's why TongSampah tak boleh di pakai....he knows zilch about the SCS situation.
ReplyDeleteChina built 8 islands in SCS
The Philippines built 8 islands there
Vietnam built 48 islands
If China wants to "bully", it has the industrial capacity to build 5000 islands.
Take that TongSampah ! Baca baik baik before opening your stinky mouth again.
And the rest of the South East Asian countries in that region fighting among themselves for those islands once they found out the 'treasures' beneath the waters. Dan datang la that shit-pot stirrer from 9000 miles away to meddle in a region that has nothing with do the Big Bully, all in the name of FON..Podah !