Dr Jeyakumar, 38 others arrested at Perak MB’s office

A group of farmers facing eviction, accompanied by Sungai Siput MP Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj and political activists, was arrested this afternoon when they tried to make an appointment to see the Perak MB after eight memos over the last two years failed to elicit a satisfactory response.

Kami akan duduk sini selagi MB beri temujanji. #PetaniPerak pic.twitter.com/buWwuXe20C

— Parti Sosialis MY (@partisosialis) August 5, 2015

Some 300 people involved in the cultivation of crops and the rearing of livestock and fish in 24 areas in Perak gathered at the State Secretariat (SUK) building in Ipoh this morning.

https://twitter.com/partisosialis/status/628755974728216576/photo/1

Their produce is an important contribution to food security and self-sufficiency at the local level at a time when food prices are soaring.

Unfortunately, like in many other parts of the country, policy makers fail to see the importance of food self-sufficiency. Not surprisingly then, farmland is rapidly being converted to residential, industrial or commercial use – and especially property development.

The land in question is either owned by the state (MB Perak Inc) or private owners to whom the land had been alienated. About 500 farmers will be affected, some of them already have received eviction noticees. Some of this land has already been earmarked for “development”, according to a source familiar with the issue. This raises the question of what kind of development should we prioritise at the local level.

“They are very arrogant; all we are asking is for a date to discuss land and food security,” said Jeyakumar at the police station, when contacted. “The National Land Code gives the state a lot of power. But power has to be exercised responsibly. Food security is one of the things they have to consider.”

Instead of using farmland for housing and new township projects, Jeyakumar said the state government could use the Land Acquisition Act to acquire land from giant plantation firms in Perak.

The 39 were arrested when they chose to wait for an appointment rather than disperse as ordered by police. They have now been taken to the Sungai Senam Police Station. Among those arrested are key PSM leaders such as Sivarajan, Arul, Saras, Nagen, Sugumaran and Bawani.