STEPHEN THEN The Star 20 Oct 14;
MIRI: Illegal logging had been detected inside two national parks in Sarawak, one of which is the largest totally-protected peat-swamp forest in this state.
Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem today expressed his outrage over these blatant and continuous illegal loggings, especially in these protected forests, and he said that "enough is enough".
He told a press conference on Monday after chairing a meeting with enforcement agencies in Miri that he wants to see these illegal loggers nailed.
"Yes, we have detected illegal loggings happening in the state, including in two national parks - the Maludam National Park and also in Bukit Tiban National Park.
"I want the forestry officials to nail the culprits behind these illegal harvesting of timber.
"Enough is enough, I want to see results in the fight against these illegal loggers. I have already stopped issuing new timber licences. Those holding logging licences now have also been warned that they must not cross the line.
"If they are involved in illegal loggings, I will go after them also," he warned.
This is the third session of talks with enforcement agencies that Adenan had carried out in Sarawak in his efforts to instill integrity in the civil service after he took over as Chief Minister early this year from Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Maludam is the largest totally protected peat swamp in Sarawak measuring 432 sq km in the Sri Aman Division in southern Sarawak. Bukit Tiban National Park is located in Bintulu Division in northern Sarawak.
These national parks are home to rare and endangered species of plants, trees and animals.
