He said the order to stop cultivation was issued in July 2020, two months after he became menteri besar, and it also involved instructions for vegetation replanting to cover the ground.

Sanusi said the farm project was approved by the previous government and the current administration was focused on finding comprehensive solutions without pointing fingers.

“What is the reason for me to cover up the Musang King project? I have no personal interest in it.

“The project was approved before my time. When I joined the state government, those trees were already there,” he told reporters after chairing the state executive council meeting at the district office here.

Sanusi was responding to claims that the state government had failed to act on durian farming activities in Gunung Inas, which were said to have caused Monday’s flash floods in 12 villages and claimed three lives.

Baling MP Abdul Azeez Abdul Rahim said yesterday that he hoped the durian farm project would be halted.

Sanusi hoped the public would stop speculating on the cause of the Baling floods, and allow the authorities to conduct their investigations.