Forest enforcement officers to carry firearms next year

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KUCHING: Forest Department enforcement officers should not face any problem in handling firearms when they are issued with the weapon early next year.

Its director Sapuan Ahmad said 50 of them were currently being trained to handle firearms.

According to him, the department would be supplied with 50 pump guns to be used by the lower rank personnel and pistols for senior officers.

“The firearms should be here by next year,” he told reporters after a briefing on Legality Verification of Logs in Sarawak at Wisma Sumber Alam here yesterday.

Sarawak Forestry Corporation Sdn Bhd (SFC) chief executive officer Datu Ali Yusop, Sarawak Timber Industrial Development Corporation (STIDC) general manager Datu Sarudu Hoklai and Harwood Timber Sdn Bhd deputy general manager Ong Lip Kheng were also present at the briefing.

The enforcement officers, Sapuan said would be equipped with firearms while carrying out their duties as there had been reports that they had been threatened and harassed by people believed to be hired by industry players unhappy with the department for taking action against them.

Sapuan said with the firearms the officers should be able to serve with greater confidence to protect the state’s timber resources more effectively.