KUANTAN, May 15 (Bernama) — The Pahang government has taken enforcement action by clearing 1,976 hectares of encroached land to date, Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said.
He said the action was carried out through the Pahang State Enforcement Unit, which was established in 2019, and so far 356 cases had been brought to court, with fines exceeding RM7 million collected.
“In addition, seized machinery, vehicles and equipment are estimated to be worth more than RM16 million,” he said during the Pahang State Legislative Assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang here today.
He was responding to a question from Mohd Fadzli Mohd Ramly (appointed assemblyman), who asked about enforcement action taken against encroachment on state government land across Pahang, including the destruction of crops and prosecution of cases in court.
Wan Rosdy said enforcement action was taken based on offences under Section 425 of the National Land Code, such as occupying or constructing buildings on state land, reserve land or mining land.
Responding to a supplementary question, he said the state government did not leave land areas subjected to enforcement action idle, but instead allowed relevant subsidiaries to develop the land.
He said if the land involved Orang Asli areas, the government would request the Pahang Orang Asli Corporation to manage them.
“If there are other capable and interested companies, we will consider them (to develop the land). This initiative can, among others, generate revenue and create job opportunities for local residents,” he said.
— BERNAMA