KEPONG: The proposed amendments to the National Forestry Act 1984 will be tabled in Parliament by early next year, says Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He said a review involving the ministry, the Attorney General’s Chambers and the Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department (JPSM) on the proposed amendment paper was in the final stage.

“The proposed amendments encompass empowering the laws from the aspects of enforcement, arrest and higher fines against convicted party under the act.

“Currently, we are giving space and opportunity to related parties to evaluate first before bringing it to Dewan Rakyat…we hope it can be expedited,” he told Bernama.

Today, local Malay daily Utusan Malaysia reported that low fines compared with lucrative returns was among reasons for illegal cultivation of land in Cameron Highlands.

The report said a fine of around RM10,000 could easily be paid by the errant party compared to the huge profits made.-nst