Do elaborate, your problem starts only at 5th gear onwards?
So other gears have also? or only at 5th gear? if it is MAF, I think the problem will be random, not only at gear 5 or beyond some rpm. If the problem always comes only at gear 5 or above a certain rpm, I don't think it is MAF. And yeah there should be a check engine light or error code if MAF start to have problem.

Encounter this before, 5th gear slow drive, when pedal about to reached 3+++ rpm knocking start. my foreman re-set the cams setting and fuel pressure, kawtim.
So basically whats the problem,maybe we encounter the same problem