KUCHING: Assistant Resource Planning Minister Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais yesterday said that he has no knowledge about the alleged illegal logging activities in Balai Ringin.
“I am not aware and had not heard of the case because I have just returned from Europe butI will instruct the Forest Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation to investigate,” he said.
He told reporters this when asked to comment on the claim by residents from villages around Melikin and Karangan Melikin in Balai Ringin that they were constantly harassed by thugs engaged by the company that encroached into their water catchment area to harvest logs illegally.
Naroden, who is Simunjan assemblyman, was met at the convocation of SEDC SeDidik preschools students at Hotel Regency Court here yesterday.
The villagers claimed some of them who asked the illegal loggers to stop were threatened while those who stood up against the thugs were assaulted.
They said reports had been lodged at Serian police station but nothing had been done to protect the villagers from the gang.
Serian district police chief DSP Mohd Jamali Umi, at a media conference on Wednesday, however denied receiving any reports over gangsterism and criminal intimidation from the residents or complainants.
He revealed that they have received 13 police reports from the villagers but none of them was on threats or harassment by thugs.
Meanwhile, NREB controller Peter Sawal told The Borneo Post that the board’s initial investigation found that issue was actually a dispute between two parties who had been given permission to harvest the timber in some parts of the area.
NREB has forward its investigation to the relevant authorities for further action.
However, Peter said the board had mobilised its men to check on environmental issues and any non-compliance to its EIA Terms and Approval conditions for development activities in that area.