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Raub Farmers Seek Justice From PM Over Stolen Durian And Unfair Contract
At Dataran Pasar Sungai Klau, The Save Musang King Alliance (SAMKA) orchestrated a rally to highlight the pressing challenges faced by Raub's durian farmers. Their gathering wasn't just a plea for help; it was a call to action for authorities to lease land to these local farmers who have been cultivating the popular Musang King durian for decades.
Back in 2020, the Pahang state government formed a joint venture with a private company, Royal Pahang Durian Resources (RPDR), to regulate durian farming in the area. However, the joint venture is alleged to disproportionately benefit the consortium.
SAMKA claims that since the High Court of Kuantan dismissed the judicial review application of the Musang King durian farmers on April 24, farmers in Raub have faced difficulties, with frequent pressures and disruptions from the state government, consortiums and enforcement agencies.
Seeking a meeting with the PM
Durian farmers in Raub, Pahang, are seeking a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to address claims of oppression by the Pahang government.In a statement, SAMKA highlighted that over a thousand farmers have been impacted, and it is crucial to arrange a meeting with the prime minister.
Raub MP Chow Yu Hui said that these farmers' livelihoods have been severely affected, and a meeting with the prime minister and Agriculture and Food Security Minister Mohamad Sabu is essential to address their plight. He also noted that Anwar, before becoming prime minister, had previously met with SAMKA, offering some positive input.
Chow emphasised that these farmers are not trespassing, as the Green Book Plan (Rancangan Buku Hijau) had encouraged them to cultivate the land. Despite their long-standing efforts to obtain land titles and secure equitable leases from the state government, they have yet to achieve success, he noted.
"I will continue to advocate for the rights of Raub farmers, both now and in the future. I will speak on their behalf in Parliament, fulfilling my responsibility as an MP to defend their rights," Chow added.
Liew, a durian farmer from Raub, said that the farmers are willing to pay fair land taxes and support environmental conservation, but entering into contracts with consortiums would not be beneficial for them. Ultimately, they would struggle to meet the consortiums' demands and face unfair treatment, especially if durian prices fall.
Raub durian farmers stage peaceful rally for fair land leases and trading rights
The farmers held a peaceful two-hour rally, protesting for their rights without any incidents. The event, called Perhimpunan Besar Pekebun 907, featured speeches from over five speakers, including SAMKA president Wilson Chang and former Tanah Rata state assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong.
Wilson Chang stated that the farmers' demands are straightforward. "They do not wish to fight the government, but the unfair contracts are unacceptable. The farmers ask to be treated as equal partners, allowing them to trade durians freely," Chang said.
He also highlighted that ever since the durian farms were locked down, many durians were stolen by unidentified individuals. He expressed his dissatisfaction, for not only the farms have been seized, but the fruits of labour are also exploited.
He pointed out that the problem of unlicensed farms extends beyond Raub, impacting farmers throughout Malaysia, including those growing vegetables in Perak and Cameron Highlands, as well as ginger farmers in Bukit Tinggi. He added that these farmlands have long been unstable and that the government has failed to consider local economic development or the interests of the farmers.
Former Tanah Rata state assemblyman Chiong Yoke Kong expressed that although farmers face difficulties, the state government and consortiums should not assume that pressuring farmers into signing contracts will lead to huge profits for themselves. On the contrary, such actions will ultimately prove to be a loss rather than a gain. Even though they won the lawsuits against the farmers, the farmers would never cultivate durians for the consortiums to make exorbitant profits. Given that the consortiums have no knowledge in maintaining durian farms, those farms will become deserted in a few years.
Police from the Raub district were on site, but no incidents were reported during the rally.
Four Key Requests from Farmers
1) Collaboration as Equal Partners: The government should promptly approve the establishment of cooperatives by farmers and collaborate with them based on the principles of equal partnership and mutual agreement.
2) Free Trade: The price of durians should be determined by market demand.
3) Reasonable Land Taxes: Farmers are willing to pay higher land taxes for durian land in order to obtain leases from the government.
4) Environmental Conservation: Farmers are willing to share the costs of environmental conservation.
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Berlin's Giant AquaDom Hotel Aquarium Containing 1,500 Fish Explodes
Watch: Scenes of devastation after tank explosion at Berlin hotel
A giant aquarium containing a million litres of water in the lobby of the Radisson Blu in Berlin has burst, flooding the hotel and nearby streets.
The "AquaDom" - home to 1,500 fish - is 15.85m high (52 ft) and was described as the largest free-standing cylindrical aquarium in the world.
Two people were injured by falling glass after the blast.
Police said there had been "incredible" damage. Video showed an empty tank with water pouring into the hotel lobby.
Guests have been moved out of the hotel following the incident at 05:50 (04:50 GMT).
A spokesman for Berlin's fire brigade told the BBC the vast majority of the fish had died, while the cold weather had made rescue attempts more difficult. The tank had contained more than 100 different species.
However, fire brigade official James Klein later told local media that "several dozen" fish had been found alive in places where residual water had collected. He said they were being rehoused in other aquariums.
Also, the Associated Press quoted officials as saying they were working to rescue another 400-500 fish in smaller tanks under the hotel lobby which had been deprived of oxygen because of the disaster.
Outside the Radisson Blu, a pile of debris lay in front of what were the front doors, which now hang into the street - twisted at an angle by the force of the exploding tank.
More than 100 fire fighters were in attendance at the incident in Berlin on Friday morning
Paul Maletzki was staying on the fourth floor with his girlfriend.
He described being woken up by a loud bang and shaking. When he looked down into the lobby, he saw water flowing across it. They and other guests were later escorted out of the hotel by armed police.
The Mayor of Berlin Franziska Giffey went to the hotel to see the damage and described the tank burst as being like a tsunami.
She expressed relief it had happened so early in the morning - saying an hour or so later, and the lobby and street outside would have been busy with visitors, many of them children.
Sandra Weeser, a member of the German federal parliament who had been staying at the hotel, told local television that she had been woken up by "a kind of shock wave" and described the scene outside the hotel as a "picture of devastation".
She said fish which may have been saved had frozen to death and recalled seeing a "large parrotfish lying on the ground, frozen".
The aquarium was modernised two years ago, and there is a clear-walled lift built inside for use by visitors. Some of the rooms in the hotel are advertised as having views of it.
Berlin's fire brigade said more than 100 firefighters were sent to the scene and it was not clear what caused the break.
It said it used rescue dogs to check the area inside the hotel for anyone potentially injured, with nobody found.
Police said "massive amounts" of water were flowing into nearby streets and people in the area should drive cautiously.
The AquaDom in Berlin contained about 1,500 fish and over a million litres of water
A police source told local media there is no evidence the break was the result of a targeted attack.
But there has been speculation that freezing temperature - which dropped as low as -6C overnight - may have caused a crack in the tank.
Berlin's public transport authority said Karl-Liebknecht street outside the hotel had been closed off due to "an extreme amount of water on the road". Trams service in the area was also stopped.
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