KUANTAN: A fire that has engulfed some 113 hectares of forest and a pineapple plantation near Kampung Cenderawasih in Pekan since March 7 may have been caused by open burning but is not linked to any drug-related activities.

Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the peat soil area which has been burning for more than two weeks was not a drug 'port'.

Yahaya said the police had met the village headman and were informed that there was no information about the presence of drug addicts in the area, which is located on both government and privately-owned land.

"Based on our police records, the forest and plantation area is not used as a drug port, nor is it secluded or surrounded by large trees.

"It is also unlikely that individuals involved in drug activities would burn down their own port.

"I have instructed the Pekan police chief, Superintendent Mohd Zaidi Mat Zin, to visit the fire site and gather more information about the incident, including whether it was caused by open burning," he told reporters after visiting the Ramadan bazaars in Tanjung Lumpur yesterday.

On March 16, the Fire and Rescue Department claimed that the large-scale fire incident at Kampung Cenderawasih was likely set up by individuals involved in drug abuse.

Meanwhile, Yahaya said open burning by the nearby plantation owners is believed to be the main cause of the fire and they will work closely with the Fire and Rescue department to identify if any arson was involved.

Firemen are still battling the fire near Kampung Cenderawasih which has to date destroyed an area measuring 113ha. So far, 93.36 ha have been successfully doused.

The fire has destroyed 16.2ha of pineapple farms at Kampung Cenderawasih, resulting in losses of more than RM150,000

On a separate matter, Yahaya said Pahang police approved more than 200 applications for permits to sell fireworks for Hari Raya Aidilfitri from all 11 districts across the state this year.

He said Kuantan recorded the highest number of approved permits with 60 and reminded traders not to set up stalls selling fireworks without a permit.