Negeri Sembilan: The Negeri Sembilan government has urged all parties to comply with existing laws concerning the use of government reserve land by verifying its status with the land office. Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun emphasized that any development, including the construction of places of worship and agricultural activities, must first undergo land status checks to avoid encroachment on government reserve lands.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Aminuddin highlighted the importance of consulting the land office to verify the legal status of land before proceeding with any construction. He cited an incident involving the encroachment of a place of worship along Jalan Kuala Pilah-Johol, which was built on river reserve land included in a flood mitigation project. The state has agreed to support the demolition of this structure due to the violation.

Efforts are underway to regulate such cases, with state executive councillors working towards peaceful and amicable resolutions. The state government receives updates on places of worship from the state chapter of the National Security Council (MKN) to maintain racial harmony and sensitivity within the multiracial community.

In a related development, Aminuddin mentioned that the state has issued temporary occupancy licences (TOLs) to farmers cultivating government reserve land with crops such as durians, oil palm, and rubber. These licences allow the state to collect a share of the proceeds from these crops, with licence holders agreeing to pay an annual fee. He assured that these activities are limited to reserve lands across various districts and do not involve clearing forest reserves.

Port Dickson MP Aminuddin advised the public to avoid stirring up racial sentiments over the matter, stating that all activities are conducted with the state’s full knowledge and that revenues collected are reinvested into state development.