Pahang sultan outraged over land encroachment amid durian farm row

Pahang sultan outraged over land encroachment amid durian farm row


Published: Apr 14, 2025 1:32 PM
Updated: 3:32 PM


Summary

• Pahang sultan says illegal land encroachment in the state makes his "blood boil".

• Sultan Abdullah calls for stern action against encroachment of Pahang lands.

A group of durian farmers in Raub, Pahang seeking to petition state ruler Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah to save their plantation - which sits on state land - may be in for some disappointment.

While not directly commenting on the durian farms, Sultan Abdullah said last night that he is incensed by land encroachment in the state.

"Take care of Pahang as best as possible. Don't let people encroach on Pahang land.

"My blood boils, so many people are encroaching on Pahang land.

"It is time for us to be firm against those who encroach on Pahang land," the ruler was quoted as saying by Sinar Harian.

The monarch's remarks come amid an ongoing land dispute between the Raub durian farmers - banded together as the Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) - and state authorities.

Fighting with enforcement officers

Last week the farmers clashed with state personnel while the latter were clearing Musang King trees on disputed land near Sungai Klau.

The farmers claimed the Pahang government had violated a court order by cutting down hundreds of the Musang King trees.

In a response, the Pahang government denied it violated a court order, with state legal adviser Saiful Edris Zainuddin saying the trees were on illegally occupied land which meant the trees were not protected by the court order.

The Court of Appeal had also rejected the farmers’ application for a stay of an eviction order due to the applicants not following the correct legal procedure, Saiful said, reiterating that the land is owned by the government.

Following the latest round of tensions, Samka, and its adviser Raub MP Chow Yu Hui, gathered around 400 signatures for a petition to halt the durian tree felling.

They plan to submit the petition to Sultan Abdullah and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

The farmers claimed that they have been cultivating durian in the area for over 40 years.