KUANTAN – The Pahang Forestry Department has destroyed about 16.5ha out of 101ha of Musang King durian orchards in the Batu Talam permanent forest reserve in Raub since the operation began last Saturday.
Its director Datuk Mohd Hizamri Mohd Yasin said the operation was running smoothly so far, with the involvement of the General Operations Force to control the safety of personnel.
“During today’s operation, about 8ha of the durian orchards were destroyed as of 1.20pm, bringing the total area destroyed to 16.5ha or more than 16%,” he said briefly when contacted here today.
The department previously said in a statement that the operation focused on destroying all durian crops grown illegally, along with the seizure of assets and arrest of those behind the activity.
It said that the operation did not involve the 2,167ha of land around Raub that was the subject of a pending court case between 110 farmers and six parties, including the Raub district land administrator, Pahang Forestry director, and Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd. – Bernama, July 7, 2021