Environmentalist To Be Charged With Unlawful Occupation Of State Land

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Environmental activist Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil is set to be charged on March 15 over the alleged unlawful occupation of Pahang state land.
The Association for the Protection of the Natural Heritage of Malaysia (Peka) president is set to face the three unlawful occupation charges before the Sessions Court in Raub next Tuesday.
When contacted by Malaysiakini, Shariffa confirmed that she was informed of this via a notice by the Pahang government’s secretariat office.
She said that prosecutors are set to charge her for the purported unlawful occupation of state land through the construction of her eco-friendly resorts and a cafe at subdistricts Tras, Dong, and Bentong.
The resorts and the cafe in question are Tanah Aina Farrah Soraya Exclusive Eco Resort, Raub; Tanah Aina Fahad Glamping Resort, Raub; and Tanah Aina Fareena Cafe & Restaurant, Bentong.
She said the three proposed charges, framed under Section 425(1)(a) of the National Land Code 1965, alleged that the offences were committed between June 10 and 11, last year.
Shariffa faces a maximum RM5,000 fine or jail time not exceeding five years, under Section 425 of the Code.
Letter of demand
The Pahang government last month issued a letter of demand against her over the outspoken activist’s allegation on its involvement in logging activities.
Through the legal letter which is a prelude to a civil suit, the state administration demanded Shariffa to pay RM1 million in compensation and make an online public apology over purported defamation against it.
NGOs and political party Muda have come out to condemn the state authorities’ ‘harassment’ of her.
The possible civil action by the Pahang government is distinct from the criminal charge against her on Tuesday next week.
Shariffa is a vocal proponent for environmental preservation, as seen when she joined other NGOs last year to plead for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to push for a 25-year moratorium on logging to prevent more floods. - Mkini

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