Illegal logging stopped in Selangor, Malaysia

End of the road for illegal loggers
Stuart Michael, The Star 5 Feb 10;

FOLLOWING tip-off from villagers, the Hulu Selangor District and Land Office and Selangor Forestry Department has successfully stopped illegal logging in Hulu Tamu, Hulu Selangor.

However, the officers have not made any arrests as the culprits have gone missing.

The illegal logging has been going on for the last three weeks on the land belonging to the state. And it was in the nick of time that the officers managed to stop the logs from being shipped out from the forest.

Hulu Selangor Forestry Depart-ment officer Abd Ramlizauyahhudin Mahli said some of the logs had been transported out by lorries during the night.

“When we raided the area, no one was not around, including excavators and lorries.

“We noticed logs being stacked up and waiting to be transported.

“Because of this, we have stationed the Forestry Department staff in the area to prevent the logs from being taken away.

“The logging is done on state land and the accused could be fined up to RM500,000 and jailed 15 years for stealing timber from the state.

“It is estimated that 30 acres of forest have been logged by six people with bulldozers, backhoe and excavators.

“The trees felled is worth about RM300,000,’’ said Abd Ramlizauyahhudin, who visited the site after learning about it from the villagers.

He added that because the timber had been chopped and exposed to the elements of nature, the Selangor Forestry Department would open a tender for timber traders to buy the logs.

“If we wait longer, the quality of logs will suffer when it is exposed to the rain and sun,’’ he said.

According to Hulu Selangor District and Land Office district officer Nor Hisham Ahmad Dahlan, the person who cleared the land has forged a Hulu Selangor District and Land Office letter stating that he has the right to clear it to plant rubber.

“However, after a careful inspection, we found that letter is forged and we have lodged a report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

“If found guilty, the person could be fined RM10,000 and jailed for two years.

“The illegal loggers are daring and willing to risk going to jail if they are caught,’’ he said.

He added that the MACC had detained and questioned a few people to help in the investigation.

“In Hulu Selangor, three places Hulu Bernam, Ulu Yam and Ampang Pecah -- are still being monitored for illegal logging.

Also present was Jabatan Hal Ehwal Orang Asli (JHEOA) officer Zainal Abidin, who was dissappointed at the extent of damage done on the forest as the orang asli have shown interest in turning the area into a rubber plantation.

“In fact, the state has gazzetted this part of the land for the orang asli to cultivate the land with rubber,’’ said Zainal Abidin.