About 100 Perak farmers who faced eviction from their land today held a peaceful protest as a few policemen stood watch at the Agriculture Ministry in Wisma Tani, Kuala Lumpur.

The farmers who carried banners which claimed they have been victimised, also handed a memorandum to Agriculture Minister Effendi Norwawi. Deputy Minister Mohd Shariff Omar received the memorandum as the minister is overseas.

The farmers are asking the ministry to intervene in the Perak government's decision to evict them from their farms. They alleged that their land is being vacated for redevelopment by well-connected politicians.

K Kunasegaran, 38, who led the group of farmers said he was disappointed that Effendi was not around as the farmers have made the appointment to meet him 10 days ago.

The farmers who were served eviction notices hailed from five areas in the Kinta and Kuala Kangsar districts - Tanah Hitam in Chemor, Gunung Pari in Kuala Kuang, Kampung Tawas in Ipoh, Tanaman Limau in Tambun and Sungai Buluh in Sungai Siput.

The affected land area totalled about 700 acres. The farmers alleged that the state government has already sold some of the land to several housing developers.

No replacement land

According to Kunasegaran, some of the farmers have applied for the land but were rejected. "They received eviction notices without any of them getting replacement land," he said.

Meanwhile, the farmers also wanted the government to officially recognise them as 'farmers on government land' and not 'illegal land intruders'.

They claimed that they have toiled on the empty government land for three generations and turned the area into the prime agrarian land it is today.

They are asking the government to offer them alternative land as replacement and compensation for at least two years prior to the approval of the development projects.

Farmers for three generations

"Farming is hard work. Without land, we can't farm. We have been farmers for three generations," farmer Liew Thye, 62, told malaysiakini.

He said he tried to buy over the land but did not receive any response. He is hoping the government will approve his application for new farmland.

"We are old. We can't get a job in the factory. If we don't farm, what do we eat?" Liew asked.

The farmers said that some of them have also been awarded certificates by the government for their contributions in the agricultural sector.

Farmland taken over for redevelopment include a 99-acre piece in Tanah Hitam.

Sungai Manik state assemblyman Mohd Pakri alias Mohd Nazri Abdul Rahim, who is also the chairman of Memori Salju Sdn Bhd, has been given the land for low-cost housing development.

The farmers affected by the eviction formed an informal group called the Perak Farmers and Cattle Breeders Coliation (Gapetak) last year.

The farmers vowed to take up the matter with the prime minister if the problem is not solved at the agriculture ministry level.