Today after watching the youtube (below), I came to know that Penang CM only knew about this now. So what happen to the past few years when the illegal chopping was first reported in this blog? It seems after the reports and exhange of email to YB Phee Boon Poh which he subsequently forwarded to Forestry Department for immediate action, the illegal felling became more widespread. Infact after the first report (Link HERE) in Tukun, BM, more felling was seen 2 weeks later. Is there a corruption in the Forestry? Hello, where is the CAT (Competency, Accountability and Transparency) the state government so talked about??
February 12, 2012
Smaller trees carted away whole
Star
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.
February 12, 2012
Smaller trees carted away whole
Star
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.
No comments:
Post a Comment