MALAYSIA: Timber-stealing gang busted in Pahang
Copyright 2001 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad
August 25, 2001
By Jason Gerald
KUANTAN, Fri. - The State Forestry Department has crippled a syndicate involved in illegal logging at the Bekelah Forest Reserve in Paya Bungor here, with the arrest of five people. The department's enforcement unit also seized 600 tonnes of timber, four
bulldozers, six chain saws and a four-wheel drive vehicle used in operations.
State Forestry Department deputy director Nor Akhirrudin Mahmud said the syndicate was believed to have just started working in the area.
Checks also revealed that the timber logged is of high quality and could be sold in the market for between RM700 and RM1,000 a tonne. Based on this the value of the timber seized is estimated to be between RM420,000 and RM600,000.
Nor Akhirrudin added that through the interrogation of the five workers, the department had identified their mastermind.
"This is the first major illegal logging bust in the State this year and this has to be attributed to the hard work and dedication of the District Forestry Department."
Nor Akhirrudin said the department had identified some 600 tonnes of timber in three areas in the forest reserve, waiting to be brought out for sale.
When asked about the area affected by the illegal logging, Nor Akhirrudin said that he had yet to get the detailed report on the bust.
"We are preparing the investigation paper on the illegal logging syndicate before referring the matter to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for further action," he said.
Checks by the New Straits Times showed the illegal logging area was about eight kilometres from Jalan Kuantan-Temerloh.