PENGKALAN HULU – The Perak government has taken various measures to detect illegal logging, including using aerial and satellite surveillance, said Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir.
He said the state government had received many reports on illegal logging and was identifying the areas involved.
“The timbers cut and removed the correct way have numbers written on them while the stolen ones have no number. We welcome cooperation from the public to weed out illegal logging,” he told reporters after visiting Air Sama Gagah at the end of his two-day visit to the Hulu Perak district Thursday.
Zambry said the state government would revoke the logging licence of those involved in illegal logging.
On the encroachment of 60ha of government land in Air Sama Gagah, he said it affected a tract of land on the border with Thailand and not the Royal Belum as reported.
“Logs from 708 trees worth RM270,000 were felled in the intrusion. We leave the case to the Forestry Department to conduct further investigations,” he said.
Meanwhile, Perak forestry director Roslan Ariffin said the department had confiscated the logs and the logger faced a RM500,000 fine or one year’s jail, if convicted.
“The logging company has violated section 15 of the National Forestry Act 1984 for encroaching government land. Its logging permit, which was obtained in August last year, will end on Feb 15,” he said.
On the arrest of two senior state forestry officers in January, Zambry said they were still under investigation.
On Jan 5, a senior forestry officer was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission after RM720,000 in cash and several unit trust account books involving investments of more than RM4 million were found at his house, a government quarters near the army camp in Gerik.
The officer, in his 50s, was detained following the arrest of another forestry senior officer and a timber merchant, aged 40 and 50, respectively, over the theft of logs worth more than RM500,000 at the Kuak Luar Forest near Pengkalan Hulu.
Bernama
