For 30 years, a group of farmers and livestock owners has invested time, energy and thousands of ringgit to make a living on former mining land in Tanjung Tualang, Perak.

Last October, however, the Kinta land office ordered the 45 to vacate the 80ha site located near Batu Gajah, saying that it belongs to the state.

The furious settlers are now attempting to fight back with the help of Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) to save their oil palm stands, fish ponds and cattle rearing activities.

They mainly comprise 37 farmers – most of them ex-fishermen and contract workers from Sitiawan – with the rest being cattle owners.

Their activities took off in the 1980s after they obtained verbal approval from the mine operators.

At first, they tried growing vegetables but the crops were destroyed by frequent flooding. Many then switched to growing oil palm.

Although they claimed to have received approval from the departments of agriculture, fisheries, environment and land and mines, the Kinta land office refused to issue them with Temporary Occupation Licences. They were instead told to approach the Kampar land office.

In a letter dated Oct 19, 2009, the Kinta land office informed them that state agencies would be taking over the site. Their plight is compounded by the fact that the oil palm trees are ready to be harvested.

Huge signboards have since been placed at the site, warning that the area is private property and that action will be taken against intruders.

Contradiction in terms

PSM deputy president M Saraswathy, who is helping the settlers to claim their rights, worked with them to draft a memorandum.

This was presented today to Menteri Besar Zambry Abd Kadir’s special officer at the state secretariat in Ipoh, with a request for a dialogue.

“On one hand, we have (premier) Najib (Abdul Razak) advocating more agricultural activities,” said Saraswathy.

“On the other hand, we have the high-handedness of the Kinta land office in evicting these people who have worked their socks off to develop this area.”