KUANTAN: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail today disclosed that aerial surveillance led to the recent discovery of an illegal durian farm deep in the interiors of Sungai Perdak near Karak, Bentong.
Wan Rosdy said during an aerial monitoring exercise, he noticed durian trees planted on a large scale in an area surrounded by dense forest and immediately instructed the state government to verify the land's status.
"The culprits operate deep in the forest. During aerial monitoring, I spotted the durian farm in an isolated area. I instructed the state secretary (Datuk Seri Zulkifli Yaacob) to investigate, and it was confirmed that the farm was illegal and located on state-owned land," he said at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
"A Pahang Enforcement Unit (UPNP) elite team went to the site on Nov 27 and seized the workers' quarters and tools. We believe the illegal farmers have been operating for one to two years. So far, no one has been arrested."
It was previously reported that about 404 hectares of state-owned land in Sungai Perdak had been encroached upon and planted with durian trees.The illegal farm was located between the Lentang Tambahan Permanent Forest Reserve and the Negri Sembilan border.
Wan Rosdy said he had instructed UPNP to destroy all the durian trees on state government land at the site to prevent further encroachment.
"The state government will never compromise with land encroachment offenders. We will not only issue compounds, but also take them to court.
"These illegal activities generate lucrative returns, and if the state government fails to act, they gain free land and avoid taxes."
Wan Rosdy said he was not ruling out the possibility of similar encroachments in the state, but hoped that the state government's stern action, including destroying illegal farms, would serve as a deterrent.
"Once we detect illegal activities, we will not allow the culprits to return or resume operations."
The state government has taken a firm stance against land encroachment, including arresting farmers in Raub under Op Sekat, a special operation targeting illegal durian farms.