Stuart Michael The Star 7 Feb 11;
WITH the authorities cracking down on mangrove log smugglers, the thieves have changed their modus operandi by forging documents and getting false approval permits.
Over the last 10 days, the Selangor Forestry Department together with the Marine Police and Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency have seized two vessels carrying 4,000 mangrove logs worth RM40,000 that were smuggled from Indonesia.
Eight men, including the tekong of the two vessels, were caught in the raid at the barter trade jetty off Port Klang recently.
On both vessels, the mangrove logs were concealed underneath about 600 bags of charcoal.
Selangor Forestry Department assistant director (operations and enforcement) Mohd Yussainy Md Yusop said the irony was that the import approvals came from the Customs Department and the Malaysian Timber Industry Board.
“How can the state prevent the stealing of mangrove logs when such things happen. The smugglers are getting inside help to obtain approved permits to bring timber into Malaysia.
“In the permits, it was stated that the vessels were carrying mangrove logs. Mangrove logs are banned in Malaysia, Indonesia and the authorities should know better than to issue these permits,’’ he said.
Mohd Yussainy added that the two tekong also failed to show any evidence of the logs being felled in Indonesia.
“This indiscriminate approval of permits to import mangroves is affecting conservation efforts in the state.
“The smugglers, a majority of whom are Indonesians, are getting inside help to obtain the permits.
The permits, he claimed, were given without proper investigation into the source of the harvested logs, a majority of which he suspected were felled illegally in Malaysia.
Mohd Yussainy identified four areas — Sungai Rambai and Kuala Linggi in Malacca, Muar and Batu Pahat in Johor — as having mangrove logs shipped from Indonesia or via the Straits of Malacca illegally.
He said these logs were then transported by a vessel to Port Klang with legal permits.
Mohd Yussainy said syndicates were hoodwinking the authorities as they apply for APs for timber but instead were bringing in mangrove logs.
“Unfortunately, the National Forest Act 1984 does not stipulate that agencies which issue import permits to smugglers can be taken to court.
“Smugglers will use the AP as an excuse to bring in logs and this will worsen the situation. This should be prevented,” said Yussainy.
He added that the Selangor Forestry Department had stopped issuing licences allowing the harvesting of mangroves in July last year but that such activities were still rampant in the state.
Between July last year and Jan 15, nine people have been prosecuted for smuggling, while the department has seized over 200,000 logs.
