KUANTAN: The establishment of the Pahang enforcement unit (UPNP) elite team three years ago has proven to be a success in instilling fear and combating illegal activities involving land related matters across the state.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail(BN-Jelai) said the idea to set up UPNP was mooted after he received a lot of reports concerning illegal land encroachment activities and felt a need to establish an elite team to work alongside existing enforcement agencies.
"Last year, UPNP conducted 133 enforcement raids involving the seizure of 177 machineries and exhibits for offences committed under the National Land Code, Pahang State Mineral Enactment.
National Forestry Act and Pahang Water Resources Enactment. Compounds totalling RM1.5 million were collected in 2022.
"Till August this year, 96 inspections were executed while 229 machines and exhibits were seized, and RM1.4 million compounds were collected. Perpetrators of illegal land activities will no longer be issued compounds but will be taken to court to face legal action and to date, eight cases have been brought to court.
"A case involving silica sand offence in Kuantan (unlawful land occupation) saw the accused fined RM200,000. All the machines (heavy machinery seized during the raid) were forfeited to the Pahang government.
"Such cases are the turning point for UPNP to bring more cases to the prosecution's attention to safeguard the natural resources in the state from being exploited," he said replying to a question from Datuk Seri Shafik Fauzan Sharif (BN-Inderapura) at the Pahang state assembly sitting here today.
In his written question, Shafik had sought explanation about the effectiveness of UPNP's enforcement activities and information on their operations between 2022 and July this year.
Meanwhile, Wan Rosdy said the success of the enforcement conducted by UPNP should not only be judged by the compounds and fines collected but also the increase in revenue collection at the District and Land Offices, and state subsidiaries.
"For example, the rock material royalty (bahan batuan) for Temerloh district recorded a 150 percent increase from RM2.3 million in 2021 to RM3.5 million last year while Lipis saw a 169 per cent increase from RM385,000 in 2021 to RM653,000 in 2022. Such achievements are proof of the effectiveness of the enforcement whereby there is an increase in compliance by the operators," he said.
Wan Rosdy described the enforcement operations as vital, saying that after action is taken against the encroachers, investors and related land lessees can bring in new investment and help increase the revenues for the state.
On a supplementary question by Shafik if UPNP's enforcement operations involved other agencies, Wan Rosdy replied the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Mineral and Geoscience Department were among those roped in to assist.
"UPNP has established cooperation and works closely with various agencies with the authority to conduct enforcement or else how we will be able to curb land encroachment in Pahang," he said.