Topil Pada Hari Ini
> Randau Khas – Ahli Parlimen PN membantah usul membincangkan laporan audit negara
> Roland Engan, Pengerusi PKR Sarawak – Menangani Pembalakan Haram: Seruan untuk Tindakan dan Ketelusan dalam Pengurusan Hutan Sarawak
> Nick Kelesau, Ketua Persatuan Keruan – GPS ditangkap pembalakan haram, adakah ia hanya satu perbuatan?
> Abdul Razak Ismail, Setiausaha Agung Parti Hijau Malaysia – Parti Hijau Timbulkan Keraguan Mengenai 2 Projek Mega, Terima Surat Tuntutan
On Today Show
> Special Randau – PN MPs objected to the motion to discuss the national audit report
> Roland Engan, Sarawak PKR Chairman – Addressing Illegal Logging: Calls for Action and Transparency in Sarawak's Forest Management
> Nick Kelesau, Leader of Keruan Association – GPS caught illegal logging, is it just an act?
> Abdul Razak Ismail, Secretary-General of the Green Party Malaysia – Green Party Raises Doubts About 2 Mega Projects, Receives Letter of Demand
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Roland Engan, Sarawak PKR Chairman
*Addressing Illegal Logging: Calls for Action and Transparency in Sarawak's Forest Management*
The Minister of Natural Resources and Sarawak Urban Development - Awang Tengah Ali Hasan reported that 264 cases of illegal logging were recorded for the period 2020- and 2022. He said this when wrapping up the debate for his ministry in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. Awang Tengah also informed that the Sarawak government has established a special task force to combat illegal logging. Roland suggested that the task force include local residents, NGO leaders and community leaders.
Relying on drones and satellite images alone is not enough - according to Roland. For Roland some things should be improved. Among them. Complaints of forest encroachment and illegal logging from rural communities should be taken seriously/action. Forest enforcement officers in an area should be fully responsible for logging cases that occur. The village head should be responsible for reporting illegal logging activities. The government should be clear about logging concessions based on previous records, location, concession, who is the main license holder and who is the logging contractor. Loggers need to answer to residents when asked, there needs to be transparency and valid maps should be easy to obtain/refer to, if necessary. And what is no less important is that the amount of wood cut should be the same as the amount declared. There are many cases where the cut wood is not the same according to Roland. So he agreed that roadblocks should be done at all bus stops - where enforcement officers can check if necessary. This was done during the Adenan Satem administration.
Regarding the difference in the definition of illegal logging - Roland emphasized that the logging license given by the state government is not in bulk. It is strict with certain conditions. There are certain trees that cannot be cut down, there are certain lands that cannot be encroached upon and logging is permitted with the consent of the residents. If this can be followed, disputes related to logging will be overcome. Roland insisted that corruption is the cause of illegal logging. He urged the MACC to act decisively. So that the issue of illegal logging in Sarawak can be addressed.
