BIDOR: Farmers in Kampung Baru Kuala Bikam should stay put unless the state authorities come with a court order and notice from the Land Office to evict, said MCA civil society movement bureau chief Ng Kian Nam.

In August last year, some 60 farmers were told to vacate a 76.9ha land owned by Mentri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) – a Perak state-linked company to make way for another company to carry out sand mining.

According to Ng, who met the farmers on Tuesday, about 10% of the land involved had been cleared.

“From our checks, Pengurusan Pasir Perak Sdn Bhd is owned by Amanjaya Holdings & Venture Sdn Bhd, which is the state MB Inc subsidiary,” he said.

He added the farmers had been farming on the land without a lease for over 40 years, with some up to three generations.

“A few of the farmers claimed that they applied for Temporary Occupational Licences (TOL) in 1998 but their applications were not approved.

“The Perak government should let the farmland remain as agricultural land to let the farmers continue to earn their livelihood.

“Many families in the village will be affected if the farmlands are taken away for sand mining,” he said.

Together with Ng at the meeting with the farmers were Perak MCA Public Services and Complaints Bureau chief Low Guo Nan.