It said this is because it can “disrupt investigations which are in the process of being completed for prosecution purposes”.

In a statement, the department also said the decision was based on advice from the Pahang legal adviser and the deputy public prosecutor.

Earlier today, Pahang menteri besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail said he had received a request from MCA secretary-general Chong Sin Woon for the Musang King farmers to enter the operations area to retrieve their belongings.

Rosdy had advised Chong to personally seek permission from JPNP instead.

Rosdy had received a courtesy call from deputy environment and water minister Ahmad Masrizal Muhammad at Wisma Sri Pahang in Kuantan yesterday afternoon, which Chong also attended.

According to him, the matter of enforcement at the Batu Talam forest reserve, particularly the 101.17ha encompassing the illegal Musang King durian farm, was discussed during the call.

Following that, Rosdy praised the Pahang government’s consistent assertiveness in its enforcement efforts, regardless of race, area or district, when it came to illegal land encroachments in the state.