More than 130 third-generation farmers in Kanthan, Perak have been told by the Perak State Development Corporation (PKNP) to vacate over 400 ha of land that they have been working for more than six decades.
Parti Sosialis Malaysia chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj has stated that the move could deal a potential blow to the country’s food security. The region is the single largest vegetable-producing area in the state. This event could lead to more price increases at a time when vegetable prices are already soaring.
Jeyakumar said he was concerned about the impact that the eviction would have on vegetable prices. He said the land was given to PKNP by the Perak state government more than 10 years ago, although the farmers have been working on the land for more than 60 years. On December 2, the farmers were issued letters by PKNP informing them they were occupying land which did not belong to them. They were ordered to move out within 30 days, failing which legal action would be taken.
Source: freemalaysiatoday.com