Malaysia: Cops to root out ‘gaharu’ thieves in Penang rainforest

Josephine Jalleh and Tan Sin Chow The Star 13 Feb 12;

GEORGE TOWN: Police will work closely with the state Forestry Department to identify those responsible for the illegal felling of gaharu (agarwood) trees near the Penang Botanic Gardens.

Penang police chief Deputy Comm Datuk Wira Ayub Yaakob said the perpetrators, who are members of a syndicate with links to neighbouring countries, are armed.

“We have not received any police report over the illegal felling of such trees so far,” he said yesterday, but added that those with information should contact the Rakan COP hotline at 04-269 1999.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng instructed the relevant authorities to step up their operations against the culprits.

“I have instructed the state Forestry Department to submit weekly reports to the state executive council,” he said during a visit to the Botanic Gardens here yesterday.

Environmental non-governmental organisations have also called for tighter security to curb the illegal felling.

State Forestry Department assistant director Azahar Ahmad said four trees were felled for gaharu recently.

“Two axes, three canes and a parang were found at the site,” he said.

It was reported yesterday that local syndicates with connections to Thailand, Myanmar and Vietnam were allegedly felling the trees in the rainforest near the Penang Botanic Gardens and other areas.

The oil extract from agarwood, used as medicine and perfume, fetches a good price in the Middle East.

Gurdial Singh, 52, a veteran with the Penang Hash House Harriers, highlighted the matter to The Star after he encountered chopped gaharu trees while running in the jungle.

Smaller trees carted away whole
The Star 13 Feb 12;

A 10ml tube of agarwood oil, which is used as medicine and perfume, is priced at RM140. It is in high demand in countries such as the Middle East.

Gurdial added that he had noticed remnants of the chopped up gaharu trees in the forest at the Gardens since November last year, with the biggest tree felled measuring more than 1m in diametre.

“The thinner, smaller trees, which are less than 30cm in diametre, are quite light and can be carted away easily,” he said, adding that he has not encountered anyone cutting up the trees.

State Forestry Department director Shah Rani Ahmad Zailan urged those with information to alert the department.

“But if the activities are happening on private land, it is beyond our jurisdiction. We can only advise the land owner to lodge a report with the police,” he said.

State Botanic Gardens department assistant director Salasiah Yusop said security in the garden vicinity had been stepped up.

Penang Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environmental Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the state was aware of the illegal harvesting of agarwood.

“We have to control this abuse with new strategies. We have to get the police involved, and if needed, even the army,” he said in an interview.

Phee added that the syndicates were also believed to be felling trees at Cherok Tokun in Bukit Mertajam, Bukit Panchor in Nibong Tebal as well as at the border between Kedah and Penang.

“Now they are targeting Pulau Jerejak and the Penang National Park in Teluk Bahang.

“We have made headway in our investigations, made an arrest and have submitted the papers to the deputy public prosecutor to charge those responsible in court soon,” he said, declining to elaborate on the arrest.

Agarwood chopped even as CM checks on illegal logging site
Josephine Jalleh The Star 14 Feb 12;

GEORGE TOWN: A gaharu (agar­­-wood) tree was felled in the rain­­-fo­rest behind the Penang Rifle Club just three hours before Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng went on an inspection near the Penang Botanic Gardens.

Lim was in another section of the rainforest with reporters and officials from the state Forestry De­­partment to check on allegations of chopped trees at about 4pm on Sunday.

A runner with the Penang Hash House Harriers, Gurdial Singh, 52, said fellow runners stumbled upon the felled tree at around 1pm the same day.

Sunday Star, in its exclusive on Feb 12, reported that local syndicates with foreign connections were allegedly felling the highly-valued gaharu (agarwood) trees illegally in the rainforest near the Penang Botanic Gardens here and in other places.

The oil extract from the agarwood, used for medicine and perfume, fetches a handsome price in the Middle East.

Gurdial said the latest felled tree was about 30m tall with a diameter of about 0.7m.

Malaysian Nature Society advi­-ser Kanda Kumar suggested that a multi-agency task force be set up to look into wood theft.

Friends of Penang Botanic Gar­­-dens Society president Rashidah Begum Fazal Mohamed said the department should act quickly to beef up security and deter the theft of agarwood.

“In other countries, forest rangers will go around the jungle to monitor and follow up if there were disturbances.

“Something should be done here too,” she added.


Vietnamese punished for chopping down gaharu – a first in Penang
S. Arulldas The Star 14 Feb 12;

BUTTERWORTH: A 23-year-old Vietnamese was sentenced to six years’ jail and fined RM200,000 in default six months’ jail for felling gaharu (agarwood) trees at the Forest Reserve in Nibong Tebal last month – a first in Penang.

Nguyen Van Tien had pleaded guilty to felling the agarwood trees, with two others still at large, at the Bukit Panchor Forest Reserve at 3.30pm on Jan 1.

He was earlier charged under Section 15 (1) of the Forestry Act 1984 together with Section 34 of the Penal Code, which carries a jail term of up to 20 years and a maximum fine of RM500,000, or both.

In mitigation, Nguyen asked for leniency, saying that he regretted committing the offence. The court proceedings were adjourned three times before the sentencing.

Deputy public prosecutor Siti Aishah Ramlan pressed for a deterrent sentence, claiming that the accused had destroyed the forest reserve and such incidents were rampant in the state.

She asked the court to impose a sentence that would serve as a lesson to other would-be offenders.

Session court Judge Ikmal Hishan Mohd Tajuddin then passed the sentence and ordered it to take effect from yesterday.

State Forestry Department assistant director Azhar Ahmad said they had to delay charging the accused because they needed to arrange for a Vietnamese interpreter.

He said besides the locals, foreigners were also involved in the illegal felling and stealing of the agarwood trees.