Royal Pahang Durian Resources-PKPP Sdn Bhd (RPDR-PKPP) have lodged three police reports following a series of harassment believed to be linked with the ongoing durian farming land legalisation scheme here.
District police chief Superintendent Kama Azural Mohamed said in the first incident on Aug 12, the company lodged a report after some individuals stopped workers from delivering security checkpoint cabins to the site.
“The matter had been settled as it was a misunderstanding when the cabins were placed near the main entrance to a Muslim burial ground. The cabins have been relocated to another suitable area.
“Two days later, security cabins which are under construction have been sabotaged and we initiate investigations under Section 427 of the Penal Code for causing damage through act of mischief,” he said when contacted.
Kama Azural said the third incident occurred on Aug 23, when certain individuals or groups had sent two baskets of durian fruits which were sprayed in black colour to the RPDR-PKPP office here.
He said the case would be investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.
“We are gathering details and trying to track down the individuals involved. Please do not speculate on the issue and make false accusations…let the police investigate,” he said, adding all the three reports were lodged at the district police station.
Meanwhile, RPDR-PKPP in a statement yesterday said its staff and agents were increasingly facing threats, intimidation and harassment for the implementation of the land legalisation scheme involving illegal durian farms here.
They claimed to have been prevented from going to their destination to deliver at the checkpoint cabins by a group of 30 farmers and were verbally harassed and abused during the first incident on Aug 12.
“The RPDR-PKPP team decided to leave the area and lodged a police report on the incident. On Aug 14, the security cabin was sabotaged and destroyed, and we lodged a second report.
“On Aug 23, perpetrators intimidated RPDR-PKPP’s staff by placing two baskets full of rotten and sprayed-painted durians at our office. We believed the culprits are familiar with the surroundings of our Raub office,” it said.
RPDR-PKPP described the incidents as serious as it displayed the lack of respect for the rule of law by certain quarters.
“There seems to be a coordinated campaign by same quarters to thwart our efforts in implementing the legalisation scheme. However, RPDR-PKPP is unperturbed and confident with the authorities especially the police in maintaining law and order, and uphold the rule of law principle,” it said.
A recent joint venture deal between RPDR-PKPP had upset durian farmers in Raub who claimed that the deal would result in the small-scale farmers suffering loses.
The Pahang government defended the move, saying it has adopted a rational approach to tackle widespread land encroachment involving Musang King durian farmers in Raub instead of completely tearing down the illegal farms. – NST