IPOH: Thirteen pomelo growers in Tambun, who are being evicted from their orchards, are hoping for more time to harvest the fruits before they vacate the premises.

       Choh Keen San, 65, said the growers hoped to collect as much produce as they could so they would still have something to sell.

       Choh said he has about 160 pomelo trees on his 1.8ha orchard and needs time to collect the fruits.

       He also said the growers had initially hoped to still be able to discuss with the landowner, Maju Institute of Educational Development (MIED), about leasing the land to continue their farms but to no avail.

       "We have sent letters to them but did not get any feedback.

       "They just do not want to talk to us," he said when met.

       "The affected growers have now given up hope to continue with our operation but just hope to get more time to collect our harvest," he said.

       The growers had in December last year received an eviction notice from MIED, MIC's education arm, to vacate their orchards.

       It is learned that the growers had been given until the end of February to vacate the land.

       MIED got the land title for a 8ha piece of land where the orchards are located since 2001.

       Choh said he estimated his losses to be about RM600,000.

       "I do hope the state government can assist us by finding us land so we can continue our operation to earn a living.

       "I have tried for 30 years to get a land title but could not get it," he said, hoping that he could find a piece of land in Tambun as the soil there was the most suitable for growing pomelos.

       "It's just heartbreaking that the state government does not bat an eyelid for us, as their focus is more towards oil palm and rubber," he said.

       Another grower, S. Subramaniam, 67, said he does not have any other plans but to just hope for a new piece of land to grow pomelo.

       "My house is also in the orchard and once the entire place is flattened, myself, my wife and our child will stay with our relatives," he said, adding that he has been growing pomelo for 35 years.

       Tan Swee Kong, whose 0.2ha of land would be flattened, said the Tambun pomelos were supposed to be a signature product and pride of Perak.

       "The state government should be fighting for the growers," he said, adding that there were about 200 pomelo growers still toiling on about 81ha of land here without land titles.

       "Most growers have been toiling the land for 50 years or more. At the least, we should be compensated," he added.

       Tan said there were about 100,000 pomelos grown on the 8ha of land.

       "These account for between 10 and 20% of the total annual production here," he said.

       Hulu Kinta assemblyman Muhamad Arafat Varisai Mahamad said he would try to find land for the affected growers.

       "I will try to discuss this with the district officer or state agriculture committee chairman (Razman Zakaria)," he said.

       The Star is attempting to get comments from Razman on the matter.