KUANTAN: Over 7,000 hectares of the Tasik Bera Permanent Forest Reserve (HSK) are suspected to have been illegally cleared for commercial crops such as oil palm and rubber.
Pahang State Enforcement Unit (UPNP) chief Saifullah Muhammad Ali said the matter was detected during integrated enforcement operations carried out in the area since Sept 14, involving 160 officers and personnel from UPNP, the Pahang State Forestry Department, the Pahang Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan), and the Bera District and Land Office.
"In addition, we also obtained security assistance from the Bera district police and the General Operations Force (GOF) 7th Battalion," he said.
Saifullah said UPNP suspected that illegal syndicates from outside Pahang were manipulating the Orang Asli community to clear large tracts of land under the guise of customary land and roaming areas for the community.
He said some areas had only about six Orang Asli houses, yet the detected land clearing covered up to 404.68 hectares.
On Sept 15, police arrested five individuals for allegedly obstructing enforcement officers during an operation at the Tasek Bera Conservation Forest Reserve.
Bera police chief Supt Zulkiflee Nazir reportedly said the suspects, a man and four women aged between their 30s and 60s, were arrested to assist investigations under Section 186 of the Penal Code.
He said that while UPNP and several other agencies were conducting enforcement operations under the National Forestry Act 1984, a group of individuals was found setting up barricades and provoking enforcement officers carrying out their duties. – Bernama
