Durian farmers need permission to retrieve belongings, says Pahang MB

 

Last week, 18 Musang King farmers were remanded for trespassing the Batu Talam forest reserve in Raub, Pahang. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon should seek permission if the durian farmers at the Batu Talam permanent forest reserve in Raub want to enter the area, says Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.

He said Chong would have to get permission from the Pahang forestry department (JPNP) if the Musang King farmers wanted to enter the area to retrieve their belongings.

“I received a request from Datuk Chong for the illegal farmers involved to be allowed to enter the operations area to retrieve their belongings that were left there.

“Regarding this request, I have asked Datuk Chong to personally obtain permission for the farmers to do so from the director of the state forestry department,” he said in a statement.

Previously, Rosdy said he had received a courtesy call from deputy environment and water minister Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad at Wisma Sri Pahang, Kuantan, yesterday afternoon, which Chong had also attended.

He said that during the courtesy call, the matter of enforcement at the Batu Talam forest reserve, especially involving the 101.17ha encompassing the illegal Musang King durian farm was discussed.

Following that, Rosdy praised the Pahang government’s consistent assertiveness in its enforcement efforts, regardless of race, area or district when it came to illegal land encroachments in the state. - FMT