In the petition, the Pahang Social Action Council said it supported the firm action taken by the state government to address illegal durian plantations, especially in permanent forest reserves and protected forest areas in Raub and other districts.
The organisation also backed the decree by Pahang ruler Al-Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah that state land must not be arbitrarily encroached upon and that firm action should be taken against those involved.
Stating that any form of illegal land encroachment must be stopped immediately, the group also said legal action must be taken against any party which trespasses on state land and harms the local ecosystem.
The group also called on the state government to continue upholding forest and natural resource conservation policies firmly and fairly, adding that offers to regularise illegal farms should only be made to those who are truly eligible and comply with set conditions.
“Through this petition, we express our full support and trust in the Pahang state government and the royal institution in defending the rule of law, the dignity of the state, and environmental sustainability,” said the group.
The petition was launched as another organisation known as the Save Musang King Alliance (Samka) gathered around 400 signatures to demand that the tree-felling operations on the disputed land be stopped.
According to Samka adviser and Raub MP Chow Yu Hui, the petition will be submitted to Al-Sultan Abdullah and Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
Media reports previously stated that farmers had blocked access routes and displayed banners to express their dissatisfaction after enforcement personnel destroyed their decades-old crops.
The Pahang government has denied violating a court order when it felled around 200 Musang King durian trees during the enforcement operation in Sungai Klau, Raub, on April 8.
The operation, involving the police and the Pahang state enforcement unit, targets illegally cultivated areas in Raub and is scheduled to continue until May 3.
Chow and another activist were released on police bail today, a day after being arrested for allegedly obstructing public officials during the operation.