DATUK Mohd Naroden Majais (BN-Simunjan) was among several assistant ministers who came to the defence of Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan (BN-Bukit Sari) yesterday following allegations made by Violet Yong (DAP-Pending).
“Our Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment clearly shows that he is committed to combating illegal logging, irrespective of whether it happens within or outside his constituency,” said Naroden who is Resource Planning Assistant Minister.
“As a matter of fact, he directed the Forestry Department, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), the police and various agencies to investigate the matter after receiving the report on illegal logging in Lawas which is his constituency,” Naroden said at a press conference.
He came to Awang Tengah’s defence by describing as “grossly unethical and uncalled for” Yong’s allegations and urging for Awang Tengah to resign, even going so far as to imply suicide.
“We wonder why she chose to mention this in the august house now, when by right she should have mentioned it to the relevant agencies at that time,” Naroden said.
He added that the government, through the aforementioned agencies, had always worked to curb illegal activities.
“His not issuing logging licences for the time being, empowering acting groups within the Forestry Department, and signing the Integrity Pledge clearly show his sincerity and commitment for success this time around,” Naroden stated.
Datuk Sylvester Entrie Muran (BN-Marudi) supported Naroden’s statement, expressing his shock at Yong’s allegations.
“It is morally, religiously and legally unethical for an elected representative to ask someone to ‘commit suicide’, especially since she is a lawyer herself and saying this in the august house.
“I feel that she seems unfit to be an elected representative of Pending, and the people of Pending must be made aware that she has not been operating effectively as an elected rep,” said Entrie who is Assistant Minister for Public Utility (Water Supply).
He claimed that Yong must “have been sleeping” while Awang Tengah was making his winding-up speech.
“She (Yong) claimed that our minister (Awang Tengah) had not mentioned agencies like MACC during his winding-up speech when he had clearly done so, so she must have been sleeping when she should have listened carefully as an elected rep,” he said.
Datu Len Talif Salleh (BN-Belawai) suggested that Yong used the occasion to “make herself feel relevant” before the State Election in 2016.
“For the record, she has never pinpointed any illegal logging cases out of the august house and, if she knew about it, she could have relayed the message to the relevant agencies at any time, not just in the august house,” said Len Talif who is also Assistant Minister for Environment.
Touching on royalty issues, Naroden said the contribution to the government through royalty was per volume (metric tonne or cubic metres) of timber, and not based on market value or sales of the logs.
“The licensee sells the timber, and the government collects royalty while proceeds from the sale go to the owner. This follows laws implemented, and such procedures are used by other agencies such as the Royal Malaysian Customs Department,” Naroden explained.