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BALING – An old video is making its rounds on social media and messaging platforms, featuring a “big shot” introducing a planned 12,000ha durian plantation at Gunung Inas in inundated Kupang here.
The nearly two-minute video – believed to surface early last year – shows a man believed to be a “big shot” of a local developer announcing plans for the world’s largest durian farm in Gunung Inas.
“This land size is 12,140ha and we will start planting durian (trees). We already have a nursery of 550,000 durian trees, and behind us, there is another 8,093ha that we will start using.
“This farm will be the largest in the world. It is our latest creation.”
Just last night, Baling saw the worst flash floods and mud floods that devastated at least 11 villages here, with many of them blaming the massive durian plantation project.
Today, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, in a press conference, cautioned against claiming the latest disaster was due to the durian plantation.
He added that accumulated rainwater in the Gunung Inas channel is the main cause of the water column phenomenon and mud floods in Kupang here.
“It has not been confirmed (either because of the durian farms). Don’t blame them.
“We need to confirm with scientific evidence. Otherwise, it is not fair.”
Last year, Sanusi was quoted as saying that his administration issued a stop-work order in 2020, after the video was made.
He then ordered the planting of durian seedlings in May 2020 after allegations that it caused mud floods in nearby villages. – The Vibes, July 5, 2022
