1 day Ago By T. N. Alagesh
Pix by Muhammad Delima AtanKUANTAN: Raub MP Chow Yu Hui's protest against enforcement action on illegal durian farms has left the opposition perplexed. Pahang Pas deputy commissioner Datuk Andansura Rabu said today: "We are also wondering how a DAP member of parliament, who is part of the government, is going against his own government. "If they want to challenge the government, they should leave the party.
"We welcome DAP to leave the state government if it disagrees with the action taken against the durian farmers. "We are upset by Chow's action as he appears to be defending those who have broken the law. "He's an MP who took an oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the constitution, but is now backing those who failed to follow the law.
"Pahang Perikatan Nasional urges the authorities to take action against him as he also obstructed civil servants from carrying out their duties. "We do not want his actions to set a bad example for the people of Pahang," he said at the Indera Mahkota PN Hari Raya open house in Balok here. Chow has been vocal in opposing the enforcement operation against illegal durian farming in Sungai Ruan and Sungai Klau, which began on April 8.
He joined the farmers on the ground last week voicing their objections against the operation, calling for the state government to temporarily halt the operation. Chow, who served as Tras assemblyman when he began championing the durian issue in 2020, is also an adviser to Samka, a group comprising unlicensed durian farmers in Raub. Police are expected to summon Chow for questioning after he was among a group of people who allegedly blocked the route to illegal orchards during an enforcement operation last week.
Meanwhile, Andansura lauded the state government, led by the Pahang enforcement unit's elite team, for its move to resolve the illegal farming issue. "The enforcement action is neither an act of cruelty nor racism. "It has been explained that these farmers had encroached on land belonging to others.
" Meanwhile, Bersatu supreme council member and Indera Mahkota member of parliament Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah, who was present at the event, described Chow's defence of the durian farmers as sending a confusing signal to the people. "The durian planters are clearly at fault for illegally occupying the government land. So when someone defends the irresponsible parties, his action appears to be contradictory.
"What is DAP's position in Pahang, especially regarding the Raub issue? Are they with the public or the farmers? "We are not against farmers earning a living through agriculture, as long as they follow the law. I hope the state government will bring closure to this matter soon."© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd.
