Encroachment is illegal, even for a mosque, says Akmal

 

Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh said cases of land encroachment must be handled according to the law. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: 

Cases of land encroachment must be handled as a legal issue and not a dispute between races, says Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh.

Citing the presence of purportedly “illegal” temples and the chopping down of Musang King durian trees in Pahang, Akmal said the focus of these cases should be on the legal aspect and not the races of the parties involved.

“Encroachment is an offence under the law. It has nothing to do with racial issues. Whether it’s ‘illegal’ temples or illegally planted durian trees, these cases must be resolved according to the law.

“Even if it involves a mosque being built on land that belongs to others, it is still wrong,” he said in a Facebook post.

Akmal, a Melaka executive councillor, was outspoken over the relocation of the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple off Jalan Masjid India in Kuala Lumpur, and had suggested that the dispute be resolved in court to ensure justice.

The temple committee eventually agreed to have the temple relocated 50m away to a new site measuring 4,000 sq ft, matching the temple’s current size.

Akmal was also commenting on the Save Musang King Alliance’s (Samka) claim that the Pahang government had breached a court order by chopping down about 200 Musang King durian trees in Raub.

In July 2024, the Court of Appeal dismissed the application of 131 Musang King farmers from Raub to gain access to their orchards to maintain and cultivate the durian trees pending the outcome of their appeal against an eviction order.

The appellate court also discharged the Pahang Agricultural Development Corporation of the responsibility of maintaining the trees. - FMT