Durian farmers vs the state: In Malaysia’s maoshanwang hub, a spiky showdown over land

The Save Musang King Alliance of farmers is accusing a conglomerate of exploiting them as durian demand in China, Hong Kong and Singapore soars

The legal battle centres on the long-standing issue of land rights in the durian-growing haven of Raub in central Pahang

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Maoshanwang durian, also known as Musang King, is prized for its flavour and texture. Photo: AFP

Published: 12:48pm, 6 Sep 2020Updated: 12:48pm, 6 Sep 2020

The global supply of maoshanwang, a durian cultivar prized by fans for its flavour and texture, may be at risk as a land battle brews in Malaysia between a group of farmers and a government-backed conglomerate, amid sky-high demand for the fruit.

The Royal Pahang Durian Group (RPDG) claims that farmers in the durian haven of Raub, in the central state of Pahang, are encroaching on state land, even though they have tended the orchards for decades.

The conglomerate has proposed a deal to legalise smallhold farmers, allowing them to obtain certifications required for export, but also demanding they achieve high yields of the fruit, also known as Musang King, and to sell their produce to the corporation at a set price.

The Save Musang King Alliance (Samka), representing the farmers, alleges the conglomerate is exploiting farmers and profiteering off their labour by setting unreasonable targets at a time when durian sales are hitting new highs .

“Some of these farmers have tended to the land for decades. You cannot just say they are trespassers, especially considering the government has in the past encouraged agricultural activity on unused land,” said Samka’s lawyer Siew Choon Jern. “The timing of the company’s action is also very suspicious, given the recent popularity of durian exports to countries like China and Singapore.”

In late August, the authorities said they would evict these untitled farmers, leading Samka to file an application for judicial review with the attorney general’s chambers to challenge the conglomerate’s lease of land from the state government as well as the eviction red notice.

The Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) and the durian farmers from Raub, Pahang. Photo: Handout