Farmers block road over eviction

SUNGAI SIPUT: A group of angry farmers felled a tree and formed a blockade on an access road leading to a housing project site after the developer failed to meet them to discuss their eviction from the land.
In the incident which occurred in Mukim Kota Lama Kanan, Salak, here today, the farmers chopped a tree located next to the road and placed it across the road as a sign of protest against the developer. The farmers also put up a canopy shed to look out for any entry by contractors.
One of the farmers, S. Ponnudrai, 54, who had cultivated his 0.8ha land for agriculture, said he was disappointed that the fruits could not be harvested due to the problem.
"I have invested some RM13,000 since 2006 to plant oil palm, lime, coconut trees and now I cannot get my returns.
"I hope to get a piece of land to continue with my farming activities," he added.
Another farmer, A. Kanayah, 64, who also started to cultivate the 0.8ha land nine years ago is finding it difficult to make ends meet.
"It is time for harvesting, but we are denied entry into the site," he said.
The farmers said the developer had cleared the land which destroyed some of the crops in November last year.
Parti Sosialist Malaysia (PSM) member R. Karthi who is assisting the farmers, said they had also applied for a Temporary Occupation Licence ( TOL) three times but their applications were rejected.
He said the farmers and State Secretary Incorporated (SSI) who are the owners of the land, met the developer to find a solution to the issue on Dec 23, adding that to date there has been no response from the developer on any kind of compensation.