Lipis district police chief Azli Mohd Noor said they were released at about 3am after their statements were taken.

He said the police investigation was conducted due to the group’s cross-state travel without permission while their alleged entry into the forest reserve without a permit was investigated by the Pahang State Forestry Department.

The department confirmed yesterday that all the suspects, who were from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, were arrested at 8am in Kampung Rakoh, Pos Lenjang, for allegedly entering the forest reserve in 11 four-wheel-drive vehicles without a permit.

It is learnt that the group, which included seven women, had entered the forest reserve apparently to provide food aid to the Orang Asli residents there. Upon checking, the department and the disaster operations control centre found that no approval had been given for the purpose.

Department director Mohd Hizamri Mohd Yasin had said yesterday that all those detained would be investigated under Sections 47 and 88 of the National Forestry Act, which outlines the requirement for a permit to enter a forest reserve and provides forestry officers the power to arrest, seize and investigate any alleged offence.