Authorities in Malaysia's Pahang state have sealed off more than 10,000 hectares of illegal durian farms in a forest reserve and detained 129 people as part of an ongoing campaign against land encroachment.
Since the operation, called Ops Sekat, began in April 2025, 12 cases have gone to court, resulting in jail sentences of up to 12 months and fines of up to RM200,000 (US$47,400). "These arrests reflect the Pahang government's firm stance against those who persist in encroaching on government land," said Pahang's chief minister, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
The latest phase of the operation, launched on July 21, has led to the detention of 45 people and the blocking of access routes to illegal farms in the Gunung Benum Forest Reserve. Authorities have also cleared about 105 hectares of durian trees in the area.
Raub district, known as Malaysia's durian capital and often referred to as "Musang King Durian Town," has around 150,000 durian trees across 2,000 hectares of state land. Illegal cultivation on government land has been a longstanding issue in the district. In April, more than 1,000 trees were removed during an earlier phase of Ops Sekat, sparking backlash from unlicensed growers and Raub's Member of Parliament, Chow Yu Hui.
In May, authorities disclosed that 10,521 hectares in Raub had been illegally occupied. The Sultan of Pahang, Abdullah Ahmad Shah, expressed his anger at the situation, stating it "makes my blood boil." Overall, around 14,500 hectares of state-owned land across Pahang have been encroached upon for crops, including oil palm, rubber, and durian. Of this, nearly 6,000 hectares are within permanent forest reserves. The Sultan has called for continued enforcement to curb illegal farming.
Wan Rosdy reiterated that unauthorized farming in state land or forest reserves is a criminal offense. "The Pahang government will not tolerate illegal land encroachment or durian plantations in Raub. No one is above the law, and firm action will continue until these activities are completely eradicated," he said.
Durian has become an important export for Malaysia, with shipments rising more than 250% from RM321.2 million (US$76 million) in 2018 to RM1.14 billion (US$270 million) in 2022. Exports are projected to reach RM1.5 billion (US$355 million) in 2025.
Source: VNExpress
