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New Straits Times

Pahang sultan gets behind wheel to inspect illegal durian farm in rough Raub terrain [WATCH]

RAUB: Sultan of Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah drove a four-wheel-drive vehicle to a former illegal durian farm at Batu 3, Jalan Sungai Ruan–Sungai Klau, near here yesterday. The Pahang ruler was behind the wheel of a white Toyota Hilux, accompanied by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail in the front passenger seat. A one-minute, 54-second video shared on the Kesultanan Pahang Facebook page showed Al-Sultan Abdullah carefully manoeuvering the vehicle on a hillside dirt road flanked by dense forest. The sultan maintained a firm grip on the steering wheel as he focused on navigating the unfamiliar route until he reached the top of the hill, where the landscape levelled out. The caption accompanying the video said that Al-Sultan Abdullah had driven through steep and rugged terrain to reach the site yesterday. "Earlier, the sultan met officers from the Raub Land and District Office to discuss the encroachment on 26,000 acres (10,521ha) of land in the district, which had been going on for some time. "Since enforcement began in mid-2024, 15,000 durian trees on about 500 acres (202.34ha) have been felled," the caption said. The post said the sultan's presence underscored his commitment to curbing land encroachment, particularly the illegal cultivation of durian in the area. Journalists who accompanied the visit endured a similarly rough journey, as the site is only accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicles. The 15-minute uphill ride required careful navigation on a narrow road, with a steep slope on one side and a ravine on the other, with several sharp bends. To reach the site bordering the Gunung Benom Forest Reserve, the convoy passed through licensed orchards and dense forests before arriving at an area full of durian tree stumps. Raub, renowned for its Musang King durian, has recently come under the spotlight of the authorities throught the Op Sekat 3.0 enforcement operation that targeted illegal durian plantations. Durian trees were felled on 202.34ha of illegal farms, an area roughly the size of 283 football fields. The operation ran from April 8 to May 3. Al-Sultan Abdullah yesterday expressed his shock at the scale of the land encroachment — estimated at 10,521ha, or equivalent to about 14,700 football fields.