Tambun pomelo growers finally get their land titles

Monday February 1, 2010

IPOH: After decades of uncertainty and countless eviction notices, pomelo growers in Tambun here will finally get the rights to the land which they and their forefathers have toiled on for the past 80 years.

Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir said the state government had approved land titles to 62 growers as part of initial efforts to solve their long-standing problems.

“The growers get to keep their original plots, each ranging between 40 sq metres and 1.79ha, for 99 years at a premium of RM1,000 per hectare on condition that they continue to grow pomelos.

“And at the requests of Tambun MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah and state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon, the state will not impose any penalty on the growers for farming on state land without permission.

“We will waive the penalty, which is normally twice the amount of land premium imposed, as we know that these growers have genuinely farmed on the land for decades and are not mere trespassers,” Dr Zambry said.

The 46.5ha land that was granted to the group of growers yesterday had initially belonged to the state but was later alienated to a developer.

Dr Zambry said the landowner had agreed in principle to return the orchard land to the state government for an alternative piece of land elsewhere.

For decades, the fate of the growers, who have made the Tambun pomelo a household name and known the world over, had hung in the balance as they received notice after notice to vacate the land to make way for a commercial project.

Tambun Pomelo Growers Association chairman Chow Sun, 74, said the farmers had fought hard to obtain ownership to the land which their forefathers had cleared and set up the pomelo farms some 80 years ago.

He said four generations had worked hard on the land and at present, about 200 to 300 people were involved in the activity on 809ha of land in the area.

“I am very satisfied with today’s results after all that we’ve been through in the last 25 years, trying to get our land titles.

“Nevertheless, we will continue to fight for the rest who have yet to get their titles,” he promised.

Ahmad Husni, who is also Second Finance Minister, said there were plans to engage a consultant to create a masterplan to upgrade the area into a world-class tourist destination.

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/2/1/nation/5588265&sec=nation

Pomelo Farmers of Tambun To Get Land Titles

Saturday November 20, 2010

IPOH: About 70 growers of the popular Tambun pomelo are a step closer to getting titles to the land they and their forefathers have toiled on for the past 40 years.

They are expected to get 99-year lease letters for their orchards from the Perak government today.

Tambun Pomelo Growers Asso­ciation secretary Chin Too Kam said the group was thankful to Mentri Besar Dr Zambry Abd Kadir for making good the promise he made during his visit to their orchards in January.

Chin, 67, a second generation pomelo grower, expressed his gratitude to Tambun MP Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah, Hulu Kinta assemblyman Datuk Rosnah Kassim and state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon for their assistance over the years.

He said the group’s struggle for land titles to their 46ha orchard had been riddled with false hopes and disappointment in the last 20 years.

“We hope the other 70 to 80 farmers in the area who have yet to get their land titles will also receive similar good news soon,” he said.

A 56.5ha land area occupied by the remaining farmers, he said, was alienated to a developer sometime between 1993 and 1994 and the farmers had been applying for the titles since 1991.

“Pomelo growers have only this area. The land here is suitable and fertile for growing pomeloes. Houses can be built anywhere,” Chin said, adding that some 500 people would be left homeless and with no livelihood if they were chased out of the area.

Even if they were to start over, he said it would take at least three years for the new trees to bear fruits.

Chin also urged the state government to promote the pomelo orchards in Tambun and Ampang as a tourist destination. His orchard received 20,000 visitors last year.