Photo: RONNIE CHIN/The Star
TAPAH: Nearly 100 villagers from Kampung Kinjang Baru in Chenderiang hope the state government will help to solve their land grant issues.
According to villager Mohamad Ayob Saad, 55, despite farming on the land for nearly four generations, they had yet to be given grants.
"My late grandfather was among the first who started farming on the land here with oil palm and local fruits.
"We have applied for land grants since the 1950s, yet every time we applied, it was rejected.
"We tried again in 2006 and that’s when we found out that the land belongs to the Perak State Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC)," he told reporters at Dewan Kampung Kinjang Baru here Tuesday (Jan 10).
He added that the villagers hoped that Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad would make an urgent decision to solve this issue.
"We are not asking for the moon and the stars. We just want grants for the lands we have worked for generations.
"We hope Saarani will hear us and look into this matter. We have tried everything we can," he said.
Earlier, a ruckus had broken out during a discussion between the villagers with representatives from SADC, the Tapah district office and the Chenderiang assemblyman's office at the village hall.
Some villagers had expressed their dissatisfaction as the matter had not been resolved.
Single mother Aziza Osman, 41, said she could no longer work on her family farm after they were told that the land belonged to SADC.
"I have two schooling children who I raise by myself. Sometimes, I had to ask my family to help me financially. I even had two jobs just to make ends meet.
"My family farm had about 10 oil palm trees and all of them are now gone. My sister had tried to apply for the grant four times yet it was still rejected.
"And now suddenly, the district office says the land belongs to SADC. How are we supposed to live?" she asked.
She added that many of the villagers had lost their main source of income.
"A majority of the villagers here rely fully on their farms. Before this, we didn’t earn much, and now we have nothing.
"Are we supposed to do nothing? Why does it feel like no one cares about our well-being and livelihood?" she asked.
Borhan Nurddin Akasah, 48, also hoped the state government would address the concerns raised by the villagers.
"How did the land belong to SADC when we have been applying for the grants for more than 50 years?
"We are not earning much, and if we are given the land grants, we can apply for agricultural aid given by the state and produce more products.
"My family has been here for generations, yet we are treated like we are nothing. I am sad and worried about my family’s future," he said.
SADC general manager (land and estate matters) Noor Haslina Ali, who was present at the discussion, said she would bring the matter up with the management.
