Here’s what you need to know:
Why were the trees cut down?
The land dispute in Pahang’s Raub town began on April 8 when the government chopped down around 200 durian trees it said were grown on illegal land. Within days, 1,000 trees were felled.
The Malaysian government claimed the trees were grown on state-controlled land without legal authorization, prompting the destruction to reclaim the land.
Pahang authorities denied violating any court order, stating that the farmers’ legal applications to maintain the orchards were dismissed by an appeal court in May 2024.
How did farmers respond?
Farmers, represented by non-government organization Save Musang King Alliance, protested the enforcement.
Reports from local media indicated that citizens blocked authorities’ access to the farms with banners to protect the durian trees.
The Save Musang King Alliance claimed that a court order in May last year blocked the government from demolishing the farms.
“Today, the farmers’ legal team sent an official letter to the Pahang government demanding an immediate halt to the tree-cutting to prevent further damage to the orchards,” Chow Yu Hui, chairman of the alliance and member of parliament, said in early April.
How valuable were the trees?
Many of the chopped down durian trees were of the Musang King variety, a special type of the fruit which is known for high prices thanks to its unique flavor.
Musang King durians can be sold for as high as US$15 per kilogram, which place it at the premium price range compared to other varieties such as Vietnam’s Ri6 and Thailand’s Monthong.
The Royal Pahang Durian Group, which holds the lease over the disputed land in Pahang, has offered to lease the land to farmers if they agree to sell the fruit to it at $9.50 per kilogram, or 30% lower than market price.
Some farmers claimed that they had settled on the land since 1974, and some of the trees they had grown were up to 40 years in age, but the government said it found trees only eight or nine years old, which indicated recent encroachment.
Are officials under investigation?
Yes. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission is probing whether current or former officials were complicit in the land dispute.
“Yes, we already have a list. Considering the case dates back around 10 years or more, some of the officials involved have since retired,” said its chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki, as reported by state media Bernama.
So far no arrest on any former official has been made.
How important are durian trees to Malaysia’s economy?
Durian is among Malaysia’s key export fruits to China. Last year, Malaysia delivered US$212 million worth of fresh durian to China, thanks to a bilateral protocol signed in August.
The Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry in China expects Malaysia’s durian exports to China to rise by 15-20% this year, driven by stronger consumer demand for the Musang King variety, which can compete with other high-end fruits such as Japanese strawberry and grape.
Although there have been efforts to grow Musang King durian on China’s land, the chamber’s chairman Loh Wee Keng said that these initiatives fell short of Malaysian standards.
“Hainan Musang King cannot replace the Malaysian original,” he said.
