Pahang Sultan Orders Crackdown on Illegal Land Encroachment

Al‑Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al‑Mustafa Billah Shah, the Sultan of Pahang, urged that every inch of the state’s land be protected from illegal clearing, encroachment and unauthorised occupation. He stressed that the law must be applied without fear or favour, noting that about 44% of Pahang’s area is gazetted as permanent forest reserves.

The Sultan also directed authorities to demolish any illegal settlements built by foreign workers on state land, describing such structures as a threat to national security, sovereignty and the future of the state. He called for tighter border controls and faster repatriation of undocumented migrants, warning that unchecked foreign‑worker camps undermine the rights of local residents and the dignity of the state.