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HIS Royal Highness Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, has issued a stern call to end illegal land encroachments in the Malaysian state, labelling the practice a “blatant robbery” of public resources that has continued unchecked for over 40 years.
In a forceful royal address at the opening of the state legislative assembly’s new session, the Sultan revealed that nearly 14,500 hectares of state-owned land, and almost 6,000 hectares of protected forest reserves, have been unlawfully occupied and cultivated — often under the pretext of agricultural development involving crops such as palm oil, rubber and durian.
“This issue did not emerge overnight — it has been deeply rooted for more than four decades without my knowledge, but it is not my intention to dwell on the past or worsen the complexities. Instead, we must bring this chapter of illegal land encroachment to a close. Let the lessons of the past guide us forward,” he said.
The Sultan stressed that no new approvals will be granted for land applications involving illegally occupied areas, in line with the state government's recent decision to crack down on encroachment.
“This is a non-negotiable principle — to uphold the rule of law and safeguard the trust placed in us by the state and the people,” he added.
Warning against attempts to romanticise or politicise the issue, Al-Sultan Abdullah expressed deep concern over efforts to manipulate public opinion in favour of land encroachers.
“This is utterly shameful. Such actions not only tarnish the image of our institutions but also undermine the sovereignty of state governance. Let us not allow narrow political interests to override justice or glorify wrongful acts,” he said.
“I must stress that any so-called struggle rooted in the oppression and unlawful occupation of state-owned land will never receive my blessing.”
Addressing land administrators directly, he urged them to act as “the front line of defence” against such offences and not be manipulated.
“I stand with all of you who fight to protect this land from being colonised, exploited, and desecrated without remorse. Let not my administration be weak or complacent. Be my eyes and ears — not just voices that speak only to please,” he said, offering full support for impartial enforcement by bodies such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the police, and the Pahang State Enforcement Unit.
Al-Sultan Abdullah also raised alarms over the loss of state revenues from illegal mineral extraction — including gold, sand, ore, and rare earth elements — often carried out under dubious or misused licences.
“Millions of ringgit have been lost through unauthorised removal of natural resources,” he said, calling on the current administration to continue stamping out leakages in revenue collection and resource governance.
Despite the challenges, the Sultan also took a moment to recognise progress in the expansion of Malay Reserve Land in the state, which has increased from 218,326 hectares in 1955 to 444,074 hectares today, now covering more than 12 per cent of Pahang’s total land area.
Tengku Ampuan Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, was also present at the assembly session. – April 18, 2025
