KUANTAN: The enforcement operations conducted by the Forestry Department in Tras, Raub earlier today did not involve durian farms whose operators had initiated a lawsuit last year.
Pahang Forestry Department director Datuk Dr Mohd Hizamri Mohd Yasin dismissed claims that the enforcement team had breached the court orders by attempting to conduct enforcement at the durian farms.
"It is a routine enforcement conducted at illegal farms operating in forest reserves. There is nothing unusual as we have already conducted similar operations several times.
"The road was closed for the enforcement operations today...we did not enter the durian farms, which is supposed to be owned by the consortium (Royal Pahang Durian Resources-PKPP Sdn Bhd). Our enforcement operation is outside the area (in the forest reserve)," he said when contacted.
Earlier today, Save Musang King Alliance (Samka), in a statement, said roadblocks were set up at the entrance to the farms and several vehicles owned by the State Forestry Department along with the police's Light Strike Force (LSF) team were present.
Samka questioned why farmers were prevented from entering the farms to collect the fruits when the Court of Appeal had previously allowed them to enter pending a full appeal is heard in the appellate court.
Unhappy with the situation and explanation provided by the authorities, the farmers had lodged a police report at the district police station at noon today.
Meanwhile, a source said the Forestry Department personnel had gone to the area today to conduct surveillance and enforcement at the nearby forest reserve.
"They were sharing the same path into the farms. A large scale operation will be conducted, but it will not involve the durian farms whose operators had a case pending in court.
"Some irresponsible quarters had grown fruit trees on forest reserve land and they have been operating for quite a long time," said the source.
He said the authorities never went against the court order as alleged by several individuals in a viral video taken at the durian farm entrance today.
"The presence of policemen is quite common during enforcement operations conducted by the Forestry department. Last week, policemen were present during an operation to destroy illegal fruit trees at the Klau forest reserve," said the source.