[VIDEO] Enforcement officers clear illegal durian farm and arrest 18 farmers

RAUB – 18 individuals suspected to be illegal farmers were nabbed by enforcement officials from the Forestry Department yesterday (July 4) for trespassing into the Batu Talam permanent forest reserve.

Dozens of durian trees were also cut down as part of the department’s joint operation with government agencies within the state and police, much to the dismay of the farmers who had painstakingly nurtured the trees for years.

In a statement by the Forestry Department, it said that the operation was aimed in clearing durain trees planted illegally on the 101ha area and arresting those who had trespassed the forest area, along with seizing their vehicles and goods.

“As for the 18 individuals, we have escorted them to the Raub police headquarters at around 4 pm.

They had attempted to block the department’s vehicle from entering and leaving the operation site, and prevented the team from carrying out their duties.”

The farmers will be investigated under Section 47 of the National Forestry Act 1984 (trespassing) and Section 186 of the Penal Code for obstructing a public servant from carrying out their duties. They will also be remanded at the Raub Magistrate’s Court starting today.

Meanwhile, Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) said that its president, Wilson Chang, was detained by police when he went to the police station to lend his support to the farmers.

“Tras assemblyman Chow Yu Hui, who was also at the police station, was arrested under Section 186 before he was released on bail at about midnight,” it said in a statement.

On Saturday (July 3), Pahang Forestry Department director Datuk Dr Mohd Hizamri Yasin said that four individuals, including two foreigners, were nabbed for encroaching on the forest reserve. The operation at the Batu Talam forest reserve is expected to end early next month.

Watch the video here:

Sources: New Straits Times, Cover image via Sin Chew Daily

Editor: Ying Ren Tan
Proofreader: Sarah Yeoh