Pahang Sultan vows to keep speaking out against land encroachment in state
However, His Highness said, addressing the issue requires the cooperation of all parties, including information sharing by the public and firm enforcement by the District and Land Offices, as well as the Forestry Department.
"I will speak out when there is encroachment, not only in Raub and the Cameron Highlands but also in all districts in Pahang, but I cannot do it alone. I hope the people will provide information to my office and the government… if they do not provide information, it may be difficult to monitor," he said.
Al-Sultan Abdullah shared his views in a special interview with Bernama at Istana Abdulaziz recently, in conjunction with his 66th birthday celebration.
The Sultan acknowledged that the widespread attention the issue has received has served as a wake-up call to both stakeholders and residents of the state.
"When this issue emerged, I observed greater awareness from all parties, including the public and district-level administrators. Many reports have reached my office and were forwarded to the state government for further action," he said.
His Highness reiterated that Pahang, and Malaysia as a whole are not a place for anyone to commit arbitrary land encroachment.
"Stop these practices immediately. More importantly, I hope that those who have the intention of encroaching, it is better they leave Pahang, go outside Malaysia. This is because the law will make things difficult for you and your families in the future," he warned.
Prior to this, Al-Sultan Abdullah had expressed deep sadness upon learning that about 10,521 hectares of land in Raub had been encroached upon over an extended period.
A total of 14,494.9 hectares of government land were also reportedly cleared and cultivated illegally with oil palm, rubber, durian, and various crops, while 5,997.09 hectares of Permanent Forest Reserve were also affected.
Al-Sultan Abdullah's determination to combat the activities was also evident by His Highness taking a look down and driving a four-wheel drive vehicle to see the effects of encroachment in Raub on May 8.
In the meantime, His Highness expressed his desire to develop small and medium industries (SMEs) in the state through the implementation of various programmes, especially involving youth.
Al-Sultan Abdullah said that young people should strive to improve their quality of life by participating in SMEs to highlight the state's various products.
"I also propose to meet with the relevant state executive council member to discuss so that we can have a programme that can develop SMEs in total. I hope we can prioritise these SMEs... let it be small (business), but sustainable," he said. — BERNAMA
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