Latest news with #MusangKing
The Star
4 days ago
- The Star
QuickCheck: Are fake 'Balik Pulau' durians being sold by unscrupulous traders?
ONE thing most Malaysians can agree on is a shared appreciation for the thorny delight of durian, though many would have their own preferred varieties. Some of the more popular varieties include Musang King, Udang Merah, Black Thorn and Penang's famed Balik Pulau. However, reports have emerged that unscrupulous traders are passing off imported durians as the Balik Pulau variety. Is this true? VERDICT: TRUE Authorities in Penang told Bernama that they have identified several hotspots selling imported durians, particularly from Thailand, falsely marketed as the famed Balik Pulau variety. State agriculture, food security and cooperative development committee chairman Fahmi Zainol said joint operations involving the police, the Agriculture Department and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) will be launched soon to curb such fraudulent practices. "We have identified two or three hotspots where durians are brought in by truck from Thailand but sold as local produce. "We're just waiting for the right time to conduct raids and issue compounds," he said after officiating the State Interim Report Launch at the Bumbong Lima Agricultural Training Institute on Tuesday (June 17). Also present was the Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM) chief statistician and Agriculture Census 2024 commissioner Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin. Fahmi said the enforcement followed public complaints and ongoing monitoring by authorities, including a recent roadblock at the Juru toll plaza involving the Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services Department (Maqis) and other agencies to detect non-compliant agricultural products, especially durian. While durians from other regions are not banned, Fahmi stressed that sellers must not misrepresent them as Balik Pulau durians. "We now have a 'Track and Trace' system in place since June 1. Every durian is tagged with a QR code that lets consumers verify its origin, from farm to table," he said. He encouraged the public to report suspicious sellers and noted that most legitimate durian farmers in Penang have adopted the tracking system to boost transparency and consumer confidence.
The Star
6 days ago
- General
- The Star
Father's Day durian feast in Seri Delima
GEORGE TOWN: What better way to celebrate early Father's Day than to get your hands on all-Malaysian favourite fruit - durians! Approximately one hundred people in Seri Delima gathered at the morning market on Saturday (June 14) for the durian feast, enjoying varieties such as Musang King, Red Prawn, Capri, Green Skin and Hor Lor. All the durians came from an organic farm in Balik Pulau. Among those enjoying the fruits was civil servant Mohd Faiz Mohd Hassan, 32. "Durians are my favourite fruit. But when you buy them yourself, you can't really sample many varieties in one go unless you spend a lot. "Events like this are great because you can have a little bit of everything," explained the father of three school-aged children. Teh Liang Teik, 75, the former chairman of the Island Glades village community management council, who was fond of a good Black Thorn, echoed those sentiments. He also has three children, all of whom are grown up and have their own families. They often enjoy durian feasts together. "Such occasions are good for community bonding. Enjoying durians by yourself is nice, but enjoying it with your neighbours and friends is so much better," Teh opined. Former neighbourhood watch chairman Eddie Lim, 81, was fascinated by a large local durian cultivar nicknamed "Khoong Loong" (which is Hokkien for dinosaur) that the vendor served. One bite was enough to reveal creamy and bittersweet notes, which he immediately approved of and recommended to his wife. "I've been attending such durian parties every year for as long as I can remember. It's something we all look forward to," shared Lim, who has two adult children living abroad. The event was hosted by assemblyman Connie Tan to express gratitude to everyone for their tireless contributions to the neighbourhood and community. "We have very dedicated pillars of society here who work hard all year round to make Seri Delima a thriving place in Penang. "Most Malaysians love the King of Fruits. And with it being in season, there was no better way to express our appreciation. "This being Father's Day weekend made it all the more meaningful since many attending today are also fathers themselves," Tan shared at the session.
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- New Straits Times
114 ops against illegal durian farms conducted in Raub since 2019
KUANTAN: The Pahang Forestry Department (JPNP) has conducted 114 enforcement operations in forest reserves encroached for illegal durian cultivation across Raub since 2019. JPNP director Zainuddin Jamaluddin said a total of 101 assets and equipment were seized within the forest areas, including pickup trucks, motorcycles and pesticide spraying tools. He said the operations, carried out by JPNP's West Pahang Enforcement Unit in collaboration with district-level enforcement agencies, were not without challenges. "These include encroachments in remote locations, navigating through fenced-up areas and traversing narrow and dangerous paths. We continue with consistent enforcement to ensure such encroachments do not persist. "The department does not compromise on the illegal conversion of forest reserves into durian orchards," he said when contacted today. Zainuddin said firm action will be taken against forest reserve encroachments, particularly where the land has been turned into durian orchards or used for other unauthorised activities. "Illegally planted durian trees are cut down using chainsaws, regardless of their size or location within the forest. "Following this, replanting activities involving various high-quality timber species, including meranti, merbau, perah and keruing, are carried out by the department's Silviculture Office. "Encroachments are detected through patrols, drones and satellite imagery," he added. In 2021, the Forestry Department felled some 15,000 Musang King trees on 101 hectares of land within the Batu Talam Forest Reserve in Raub.
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- New Straits Times
Pahang Forestry Dept carried out 114 enforcement operations in forest reserves since 2019
KUANTAN: The Pahang Forestry Department has conducted 114 enforcement operations in forest reserves which were encroached for the illegal durian farm cultivation across Raub since 2019. Its director Zainuddin Jamaluddin said a total of 101 assets and equipment were seized within the forest areas, including pickup vehicles, motorcycles, and pesticide spraying tools. He said during the operation which saw the department's West Pahang Enforcement Unit, teaming up with district-level enforcement agencies, exposed to various challenges. "The challenges include encroachment in remote locations, forced to pass through areas which are fenced up, narrow and dangerous stretches. "We continue to carry out enforcement consistently to ensure that encroachment does not persist. "The department does not compromise on illegally converting forest reserves into durian orchards in certain areas," he said when contacted today. Zainuddin said the department takes firm action against forest reserve encroachment, especially where the forest has been turned into durian orchards or utilised for other activities. "Durian trees will be cut down using chainsaws, regardless of the size of the trees or the location within the forest area. "After the illegally planted trees are chopped, replanting activities involving various high-quality timber, including species such as Meranti, Merbau, Perah, and Keruing are carried out by the department's Silviculture Office. "Encroachments are detected through patrols, drones, and satellite imagery," he said. In 2021, Forestry Department cut down some 15,000 Musang King trees in an area measuring 101 hectares at the Batu Talam forest reserve in Raub.
New Straits Times
11-06-2025
- New Straits Times
114 enforcement operations carried out against illegal durian farms in Raub forest reserves
KUANTAN: The Pahang Forestry Department has carried out 114 enforcement operations against illegal durian farms in forest reserves in Raub since 2019. Its director, Zainuddin Jamaluddin, said 101 assets and equipment were seized within the forest areas, including pickup vehicles, motorcycles and pesticide sprayers. He said the operations, carried out by the department's West Pahang Enforcement Unit together with district enforcement agencies, were met with various challenges. "The challenges include encroachment in remote areas, fenced-off zones, and narrow, dangerous routes. We continue to enforce the law consistently to ensure encroachment does not persist," he said today. "The department does not compromise on the illegal conversion of forest reserves into durian farms." Zainuddin said firm action is taken against encroachment, especially where forests have been turned into durian farms or used for other purposes. "Durian trees are cut down with chainsaws, regardless of their size or location in the forests. "After the illegally planted trees are removed, replanting is carried out by the department's Silviculture Office using various high-quality timber species such as Meranti, Merbau, Perah and Keruing. "Encroachments are detected through patrols, drones and satellite imagery." In 2021, the Forestry Department cut down about 15,000 Musang King trees over 101 hectares in the Batu Talam forest reserve in Raub.
