4,800 Hectares Of Government Land And Forest Reserves Illegally Encroached

KUANTAN (Pahang, Malaysia), July 23 (Bernama) -- It is estimated that 4,800 hectares of government land and forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia's east coast state of Pahang have been illegally encroached upon, according to State Secretary Muhammad Safian Ismail. He said the areas identified as critical were in Raub, Jerantut, Cameron Highlands, Bera and Maran. "We have formed a team and we have identified that the affected areas include the Ramsar site in Bera and we will mount enforcement after Raya (Eid, celebrations to mark to end of Ramadan month) by destroying the crops illegally cultivated on the identified land. "There's a proposal for the illegally cultivated land be given to the Pahang Agriculture Development Authority (LKPP) to set up plantations and so on. But for the Ramsar site, we cannot do that, otherwise the site will eventually disappear altogether," he said, here, Tuesday. According to media reports, concerned residents around Tasik Bera want the state government to take stern action against the parties involved as their action has destroyed the fauna and flora at the Ramsar site or wetland. The residents also want the illegal encroachment on 400 hectares of land in the area to stop immediately. Muhammad Safian said Bera would be defended against encroachment as it was unique and recognised by the United Nations as a Ramsar sight. He said the illegal encroachment was mainly committed by outsiders like in Cameron Highlands and as such, enforcement should not just involve destroying the illegally cultivated crops but an integrated operation involving the Immigration Department, Land Office and police. The losses incurred due to the illegal encroachment of logging areas were at at RM7,000 (US$2,201) per acre and agriculture land at RM600 (US$188) per acre per year, he added. -- BERNAMA