Pasir mas: A total of 54 demolition notices have been issued by the Land and District Office on illegal jetties built using government-owned land in Pasir Mas and Tumpat since last week. General Operations Force (PGA) Southeast Brigade Commander Datuk Nik Ros Azhan Nik Ab Hamid said the placement of the notices and yellow tape at the sites was an initial step before demolition action is carried out.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, these illegal jetties were previously believed to have been used as smuggling routes for goods including rice, livestock, drugs, and firearms through Sungai Golok. So far, 44 notices have been placed in Tumpat and another 10 in Pasir Mas. For the Jeli and Tanah Merah districts, no notices were placed as there are no structured constructions in those areas.

The existence of these illegal jetties not only poses a security risk but also complicates enforcement operations, particularly by the PGA in border areas. A Bernama check at some of the illegal jetties today found several posted notices stating that demolition action under Section 426A of the National Land Code would be carried out against illegal structures on government land within 14 days from the notice date without any further warning.

Construction on government land without legal permission constitutes an offence under Section 425 of the National Land Code 1965, which provides for a penalty of up to five years' imprisonment or a fine of up to RM500,000, or both, upon conviction. Previously, Nik Ros Azhan said a total of 212 illegal jetties along Sungai Golok, which forms the Malaysia-Thailand border in Kelantan, had been identified for demolition in a joint operation by local authorities (PBT) and security agencies.

The decision was made during a Special Committee Meeting at the Kelantan Land and Mines Office (PTG) to curb smuggling activities and ensure tighter border control.