A durian farmers' dispute in Raub, Pahang has turned political with parties from both sides of the divide racing to lend a helping hand but a royal twist also means they must tread carefully.

The backdrop of these developments is the speculation that Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin may call for a snap election in the near future in an attempt to bolster his fragile majority.

The dispute started when the Pahang government's Perbadanan Kemajuan Pertanian Negeri Pahang (PKPP) and royalty-linked Royal Pahang Durian Resources (RPDR) entered into a joint-venture and is now...