Latest news with #ZainuddinJamaluddin
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
114 ops against illegal durian farms conducted in Raub since 2019
KUANTAN: The Pahang Forestry Department (JPNP) has conducted 114 enforcement operations in forest reserves encroached for illegal durian cultivation across Raub since 2019. JPNP director Zainuddin Jamaluddin said a total of 101 assets and equipment were seized within the forest areas, including pickup trucks, motorcycles and pesticide spraying tools. He said the operations, carried out by JPNP's West Pahang Enforcement Unit in collaboration with district-level enforcement agencies, were not without challenges. "These include encroachments in remote locations, navigating through fenced-up areas and traversing narrow and dangerous paths. We continue with consistent enforcement to ensure such encroachments do not persist. "The department does not compromise on the illegal conversion of forest reserves into durian orchards," he said when contacted today. Zainuddin said firm action will be taken against forest reserve encroachments, particularly where the land has been turned into durian orchards or used for other unauthorised activities. "Illegally planted durian trees are cut down using chainsaws, regardless of their size or location within the forest. "Following this, replanting activities involving various high-quality timber species, including meranti, merbau, perah and keruing, are carried out by the department's Silviculture Office. "Encroachments are detected through patrols, drones and satellite imagery," he added. In 2021, the Forestry Department felled some 15,000 Musang King trees on 101 hectares of land within the Batu Talam Forest Reserve in Raub.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
Pahang Forestry Dept carried out 114 enforcement operations in forest reserves since 2019
KUANTAN: The Pahang Forestry Department has conducted 114 enforcement operations in forest reserves which were encroached for the illegal durian farm cultivation across Raub since 2019. Its director Zainuddin Jamaluddin said a total of 101 assets and equipment were seized within the forest areas, including pickup vehicles, motorcycles, and pesticide spraying tools. He said during the operation which saw the department's West Pahang Enforcement Unit, teaming up with district-level enforcement agencies, exposed to various challenges. "The challenges include encroachment in remote locations, forced to pass through areas which are fenced up, narrow and dangerous stretches. "We continue to carry out enforcement consistently to ensure that encroachment does not persist. "The department does not compromise on illegally converting forest reserves into durian orchards in certain areas," he said when contacted today. Zainuddin said the department takes firm action against forest reserve encroachment, especially where the forest has been turned into durian orchards or utilised for other activities. "Durian trees will be cut down using chainsaws, regardless of the size of the trees or the location within the forest area. "After the illegally planted trees are chopped, replanting activities involving various high-quality timber, including species such as Meranti, Merbau, Perah, and Keruing are carried out by the department's Silviculture Office. "Encroachments are detected through patrols, drones, and satellite imagery," he said. In 2021, Forestry Department cut down some 15,000 Musang King trees in an area measuring 101 hectares at the Batu Talam forest reserve in Raub.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
114 enforcement operations carried out against illegal durian farms in Raub forest reserves
KUANTAN: The Pahang Forestry Department has carried out 114 enforcement operations against illegal durian farms in forest reserves in Raub since 2019. Its director, Zainuddin Jamaluddin, said 101 assets and equipment were seized within the forest areas, including pickup vehicles, motorcycles and pesticide sprayers. He said the operations, carried out by the department's West Pahang Enforcement Unit together with district enforcement agencies, were met with various challenges. "The challenges include encroachment in remote areas, fenced-off zones, and narrow, dangerous routes. We continue to enforce the law consistently to ensure encroachment does not persist," he said today. "The department does not compromise on the illegal conversion of forest reserves into durian farms." Zainuddin said firm action is taken against encroachment, especially where forests have been turned into durian farms or used for other purposes. "Durian trees are cut down with chainsaws, regardless of their size or location in the forests. "After the illegally planted trees are removed, replanting is carried out by the department's Silviculture Office using various high-quality timber species such as Meranti, Merbau, Perah and Keruing. "Encroachments are detected through patrols, drones and satellite imagery." In 2021, the Forestry Department cut down about 15,000 Musang King trees over 101 hectares in the Batu Talam forest reserve in Raub.
Free Malaysia Today
3 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
59 cases of illegal durian farming in Pahang's forest reserves since 2019
Volunteers from 23 NGOs planted high-value timber trees in the Batu Talam Forest Reserve in Raub, after 15,000 illegally planted Musang King durian trees were discovered in the area. PETALING JAYA : The Pahang forestry department has carried out a total of 114 enforcement operations since 2019, involving 59 cases of encroachment on forest reserves for illegal durian farming. The department's director Zainuddin Jamaluddin said the 101 items seized from these forest areas included pickup trucks, motorcycles, and herbicide spraying equipment. He said the encroachments were detected through patrols, drones, and satellite surveillance, Berita Harian reported. 'Durian trees would be felled using chainsaws, regardless of the tree's size or the forest's location,' he said. 'This enforcement action is not cruel, even though many disagree with it. Before any operation is carried out, negotiations are held with the illegal farmers to give them a chance.' Offenders can be prosecuted under Sections 32, 47, and 50 of the National Forestry Act 1984, which carry penalties including imprisonment and fines. Zainuddin said that once the durian trees are cut down, the department's western zone silviculture office replants the area with high-value timber species such as meranti, merbau, perah, and keruing. According to him, the silviculture office and district enforcement agencies face various challenges, including the remote location of encroachment sites, fenced private land, and narrow, hazardous paths. 'Nonetheless, we continue our enforcement efforts to ensure that forest reserve encroachments do not persist. 'We will not compromise when it comes to forest reserve encroachments for illegal durian farming.' In 2021, the department cut down about 15,000 Musang King durian trees illegally planted across 101.17 hectares in the Batu Talam Forest Reserve in Raub. Around 20,000 trees, including merawan, meranti, balau, and keruing, were subsequently planted in the area. Last month, the department carried out enforcement operations against illegal durian farms in Sungai Ruan and Sungai Klau, Raub.
