Raub durian farmers seek to drop appeal over eviction case
The farmers' applied to initiate judicial review proceedings against the state government last year against its decision to lease 2,167ha of farm land to Royal Pahang Durian Resources. (Facebook pic)
PETALING JAYA : A group of durian farmers in Raub are seeking to drop their appeal against a High Court ruling that dismissed their application for a judicial review of an eviction notice served on them by the Pahang government in 2020.
The legal firm representing the farmers said in a letter yesterday they had been instructed to withdraw the appeal, with no order as to costs.
The defendants, comprising the Pahang government, Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd, and several others, were given seven days to convey any objections.
The farmers' application for a judicial review was dismissed by the High Court judge last year. The farmers had filed the application after the state government decided to lease the 2,167ha of farm land to Royal Pahang Durian Resources.
Justice Radzi Harun also rejected an application to review the state's move to sublease the land with the mandatory requirement that durians farmed be sold to a single entity nominated by Royal Pahang Durian Resources.
Royal Pahang Durian Resources executive director Steven Mun confirmed receiving the letter, but said the farmers' application had yet to be filed in court.
'We hope the necessary filings will be made at the Court of Appeal shortly,' he told FMT.
He said the resolution of the dispute paves the way for a structured arrangement where farmers are granted a 30-year lease, with an option to renew for another 30 years subject to state approval.
He said under the terms offered to the farmers, Royal Pahang Durian Resources will purchase the durians from these farms 'thereby regulating the supply chain and ensuring that exports meet the certifications required by importing countries'.
Mun said importing countries were increasingly requiring that durian exports were certified and met the standards of the Malaysian Good Agricultural Practices scheme.
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