The Pahang Social Action Council voiced full backing for “Op Sekat,” an ongoing state-led operation targeting durian plantations on unlawfully occupied land, Free Malaysia Today reported.
Over 1,000 trees have since been cut down as part of the ongoing operation, many of which were of the premium Musang King variety.
In its petition, the group emphasized the need to protect forest reserves and conservation zones in Raub, calling for legal action against those encroaching on state land and urging strict enforcement of conservation laws. It also called on authorities to offer farm legalization only to growers who meet official criteria.
“Through this petition, we express our full support and trust in the Pahang state government and the royal institution in defending the rule of law, the dignity of the state, and environmental sustainability,” the organization said.
The state’s decisive actions have also garnered praise from its residents and other NGOs, according to the New Straits Times.
They held a peaceful gathering on April 11 in Raub, where they carried placards backing the crackdown operation.
Syed Kharudin Syed Hamid, a 65-year-old who resides in the district, said it was long overdue for the state to address the persistent land encroachment.
But the campaign has also sparked backlash. Another NGO known as the Save Musang King Alliance, which represents unlicensed durian farmers in Raub, has expressed its frustration with the operation.
Chow Yu Hui, chairman of the alliance and a member of parliament, told the media that farmers had spent 30-40 years nurturing their trees, only to watch them felled in a matter of minutes.
The alliance has collected around 400 signatures calling for an end to the tree-felling operation. It claims that such demolitions are blocked by a court order issued last May.
The Pahang government has stood by its actions, affirming that no court order has been breached and asserting its right to clear trees on the 200 hectares of land under its control.
The ongoing operation, carried out with the police and state enforcement unit, is set to continue until May 3.
