KOTA BARU: The Kelantan Forestry Department has recorded 137 cases of encroachment in the state's forests between 2020 and 2023.
Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said 98 cases were resolved while the rest were still under the department's investigation.
"During the same period, the department collected compounds amounting to RM1.38 million from the offenders," he said.
The Meranti assemblyman was replying to Nik Bahrum Nik Abdullah (Pas-Chempaka) at the state assembly sitting here today.
Nassuruddin said there was a downward trend in the number of cases in the four-year period.
"In 2020, there were 47 cases and in 2021, the department recorded 35 cases.
"In 2022, they had 33 cases while last year, 22 cases were recorded.
"This shows that the department has stepped up its enforcement in the state's forests to prevent encroachment," he added.