Dr Jeyakumar Devaraj, a medical doctor-turned-activist and politician, has spent over 20 years defending farmers from forceful evictions. He now faces his biggest fight yet.
Hundreds of farmers across Malaysia are facing evictions. Many of their families have been farming for generations, some from before independence. Yet, they were unable to secure land leases or grants from the state governments, who instead have largely sold the land to private developers or government-linked companies.
Jeyakumar and other activists in Perak have long decried this policy, believing that the critical role farmers play in society means they should have priority for leases or grants; and the land itself – which is already fertile and productive – should be gazetted as permanent food production land (“taman kekal pengeluaran makanan”).
To help save the farms, Jeyakumar has organised human chains with farmers and other activists to block the developers’ bulldozers and excavators. Several of them have also been arrested, and some are currently facing lawsuits.
Produced by: The Last Harvest
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
