AI-generated image fuels tensions over Malaysia's felling of 1,000 durian trees

The image, which depicted durian trees surrounded by dense forest with a caption suggesting it was taken at a hidden location, was posted in the Prompters Malaya Facebook group. It was later shared widely without context, fueling public belief that illegal farms were concealed in the area's forests.

On Tuesday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) confirmed that it had questioned the individual who uploaded the AI image, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

The MCMC said: "The content is believed to have been generated using artificial intelligence, and as a result, various speculations and negative perceptions have arisen among the public regarding illegal planters in the Raub district, Pahang."

A farmer harvest durian in November 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Nam

In the past week, authorities in Raub have felled over 1,000 durian trees, many of them from the prized Musang King variety, which can fetch up to US$15 per kilogram thanks to its distinctive bittersweet flavor. The government claims these farms were illegally established on state land.

The issue has sparked a fierce debate online, with some supporting the state’s actions and others defending farmers’ rights. A long-standing dispute over the control of Pahang’s lucrative durian trade has escalated, with accusations of orchards encroaching on government land.

Farmers have tried to block efforts to remove their trees, prompting a strongly-worded response from Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah, the state ruler, who said that his "blood boils" at the alleged encroachment.

The Save Musang King Alliance, which represents farmers, has protested the tree-felling operation, gathering around 400 signatures to call for its halt. The alliance claims that a court order issued in May 2024 blocks such demolitions.

Meanwhile, the Pahang Social Action Council, a local NGO, has voiced full support for "Op Sekat," a state-led operation targeting durian plantations on illegally occupied land, as reported by Free Malaysia Today.

The Pahang government has defended its actions, asserting that no court order has been violated and reaffirming its right to clear trees on the 200 hectares of land under its control.

The operation, which involves the police and state enforcement units, is set to continue until May 3.