Perak will increase patrols and enforcement to tackle government land encroachment, with offenders facing fines or imprisonment under existing laws.
IPOH: The Perak State Government will intensify patrols and enforcement to tackle encroachment on government land.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad told the state legislative assembly that existing laws provide sufficient penalties for offenders.
“However, laws without enforcement will lead to non-compliance,” he said in a reply to a supplementary question.
He stated the government is fully committed to ensuring enforcement officers can perform their duties effectively.
These measures include increasing patrols and exploring ways to boost personnel numbers if needed.
Saarani said encroachment in forest reserve areas is dealt with under the National Forestry Act 1984.
He cited a major multi-agency operation in Bagan Datuk last September as an example of enforcement.
That operation in Kampung Sungai Lanchang targeted the illegal construction of an 8.093-hectare shrimp pond.
Continuous monitoring is also being conducted in the mangrove forest reserve to prevent new encroachment.
Offenders found guilty of encroaching on government land are liable for prosecution.
If convicted, they face fines or imprisonment.
