Malaysia: ‘Stop the logging around Taman Negara’

ONG HAN SEAN The Star 27 Jul 15;

JERANTUT: An environmental group and tourism operators are calling for a stop to aggressive logging at Taman Negara’s borders.

Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) president Puan Sri Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil said the rivers flowing into Sungai Tembeling had been severely affected by logging in the Ulu Tembeling forests.

“And these had intensified in the last three years,” she said.

“The logging is causing more loss than profit,” Shariffa said. “Sungai Pengau and Sungai Lau have become dirty from erosion run-offs and the sediments are flowing into Sungai Tembeling, making it shallow,” she said after visiting the logging sites here yesterday.

Shariffa urged the state government to halt logging in the area, saying it did not looked sustainable.

Pahang National Park Tourism Operators Association chairman Abdul Jalil Rahman said although the logging was outside Taman Negara, the effects were turning tourists away.

“From the feedback I received from tourists, they already got a negative impression upon entering Taman Negara because they had seen so many trailers carrying logs.

“Although the logging is not within Taman Negara, it is damaging to the park’s image,” he said.

Abdul Jalil said tourists also complained of over-development.

“The tourists expected to see a pristine rainforest but they left disappointed, complaining that they did not even see any animals.

“In the past, some tourists would even cry when they left Taman Negara but these days, repeat visitors are rare,” he said.

Abdul Jalil added that road construction to several villages here would seem to be for the people’s benefit. “But from the looks of it, the road is being used for transporting logs instead.”

Tour guide Roslan Abu Kassim, 50, claimed that the massive flood in Taman Negara last year was caused by Sungai Tembeling becoming too shallow.

“I fear it will be even worse this year.”