Sinar Harian reported a source as saying that the suspects, in their 40s to 60s, were accused of obtaining, receiving, possessing, transferring and using proceeds from durian planting activities on a government-owned forest reserve in the state.

The source said the five men were arrested from noon to 3pm yesterday when giving their statements at the Raub MACC office.

“They were brought to the Kuantan magistrates’ court today to obtain a remand order,” said the source, adding that magistrate Fauzan Suhairi allowed a four-day remand for the suspects until Oct 3.

The source said preliminary investigations found that the suspects had allegedly conducted their activities from 2024 to 2025, making hundreds of thousands of ringgit in profit.

“Four of them are believed to have been generationally involved in this illegal activity, and refused to join the whitening programme offered by Royal Pahang Durian Resources PKPP Sdn Bhd, the company appointed by the state government as the legal land leaseholder,” said the source.

Pahang MACC director Shukor Mahmud confirmed the arrests, saying the case is being investigated under Section 4(1)(b) of the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.

He did not dismiss the possibility that further arrests would be made to aid investigations.