RECENTLY, Pahang Bersatu chief Abdul Khalib Abdullah criticised the state DAP’s decision to mediate between illegal durian farmers in Raub and the Pahang government, calling it inappropriate.
Likewise, UMNO is also under fire from Khalib who is perplexed by the party’s defence of Raub DAP MP Chow Yu Hui who was arrested last week after his participation in a protest against the felling of durian trees in the illegal farms.
Khalib urged DAP to respect Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah’s stance on the land dispute, emphasising that the farmers illegally encroached on state land.
He added that Chow Yu Hui’s actions were unacceptable. Khalib further questioned a Pahang UMNO leader’s move to suggest that Chow’s actions in the matter were in his personal capacity, and did not reflect DAP’s stance.
“This is what puzzled me and my colleagues in Pahang Bersatu, when an UMNO leader could say that Chow acted personally, and not on behalf of DAP,” said Khalib.
“If someone like (DAP secretary-general) Anthony Loke made that statement, we wouldn’t find it odd. But coming from an UMNO leader, it seems rather awkward,” he continued.
Khalib, however, did not name the UMNO leader involved. The dispute involves Musang King durian orchards in Sungai Klau, where the Pahang State Enforcement Unit destroyed illegally planted trees on April 8.
This led to protests by farmers and Chow, with Chow and Save Musang King Alliance chairperson Wilson Chang being arrested on April 14 for obstructing officials.
They were later released. Sultan Abdullah, during the state assembly opening, demanded a final resolution to the encroachment issue. —Apr 20, 2025
Main image: NST Online
