Illegal loggers fined RM8.5 mln

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State to step up operations against unlawful logging despite success in last three years

Awang Tengah (left) sharing a light moment with State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar (third left) as well as former assemblymen (from second left) Abu Seman Jahwie, Datuk Dr Wahbi Junaidi and Datuk Awang Bemee Pengiran Ali Basah after the DUN sitting yesterday.

Awang Tengah (left) sharing a light moment with State Legislative Assembly Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar (third left) as well as former assemblymen (from second left) Abu Seman Jahwie, Datuk Dr Wahbi Junaidi and Datuk Awang Bemee Pengiran Ali Basah after the DUN sitting yesterday.

KUCHING: The Forest Department has collected RM8.5 million in compound fines from 206 cases of logging offences out of 542 cases it investigated since 2014.

In addition, 65 cases were sent to the Sarawak Attorney General for further legal action, 183 cases involved only seized items, 46 cases are still under investigation while 42 cases were closed as there was no offence was committed, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said in his winding up speech at the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.

He said during the same period, 189,879 cubic meters of logs with the royalty value of RM12.3 million were seized. Aside from that, he said the department also seized 285 various machineries and detained 57 persons in its raids.

Awang Tengah said 12 cases had been brought to court and in two cases, the offenders were fined while the other 10 cases are still on trial.

He said the state government was committed to intensify its efforts in curbing illegal logging despite the success it had achieved so far. He said to curb illegal logging, the state authorities had deployed the use of modern technologies including hyperspectral imaging, drones, geographical information system (GIS) and Sarawak Log Tracking and Forest Revenue System (REVLOG). He added that the Forest Department would also deploy the enforcement into the forest areas where logging is carried out through One Stop Compliance Centres (OSCC).

“The state task force on illegal on logging will continue to coordinate plans, strategies and actions to ensure the objectives are achieved.

“I appeal to all relevant government agencies to intensify efforts to combat illegal logging. I also call upon the general public to continue giving cooperation to ensure success in this operation,” he said.

Awang Tengah said the state government was committed to gazetting at least one million hectares of Totally Protected Areas (TPAs) by 2020.

Currently, the state has gazetted 940,807.40 hectares comprising terrestrial and water bodies.

“We shall continue to open up our forests to international R&D (research and development) and will collaborate with those NGOs (non-governmental organisations)and scientific institutions who share our common agenda,” he said.

He said the government had also actively engaged local communities in forest

management through a number of programmes including the Honorary Wild Life Ranger Programme, Special Park and Special Wild Life Committee, communication, education and public awareness programmes on crocodiles, hornbill conservations and marine conservation.