Malaysian ‘coconut tree war’ rages on despite 93 police reports

JOHOR BARU (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - There is no end to the “coconut tree war” involving three neighbours even after 93 police reports.

The feud between former factory supervisor S. Rajanthran and his neighbour started after he asked the Johor Baru City Council to cut down three leaning coconut trees in front of his house three years ago. When the council felled the trees, the neighbours started warring.

During the height of their problems, the neighbour and his son were even fined a total of RM12,000 (S$4,780) by a magistrate's court for assaulting Mr Rajanthran with a hockey stick at the end of last year. However, Mr Rajanthran has alleged that since the court case, his neighbour has been behaving more aggressively.

In the latest incident, former factory supervisor S. Rajanthran alleged that his neighbour tried to run him down outside his homeon Friday.