TAWAU: The Sabah Forestry Department has again been urged to explain the hefty drop in timber royalty collection while allegations of illegal logging operations in Yayasan Sabah concessions continue to surface.
Sri Tanjong assemblyman Chan Foong Hin and PKR Tawau branch chairman Kong Hong Ming said despite two police reports lodged on Sept 30, the Sabah Forestry Department had yet to respond to two cases of suspected illegal logging at Yayasan Sabah concessions area operated by Barisan Aman Sdn Bhd.
“It was reported that logging activities happen at night or more than a year. Veneer was processed at the mobile mill there which is owned by Wincojaya Sdn Bhd. Most of the veneer processed is sent to Rajang Plywood Sdn Bhd in Sg Udin, Brumas, about 30km from Tawau town,” they said, based on the police report.
The second report refers to alleged illegal logging at Kuamut forest. In this case the number of log felled do not tally with the report. Logs from Kuamut forest, they said, was sent to two mills in Telupid, about 72 kilometres from Kuamut area.
According to the two opposition politicians, who have joined forces to get to the bottom of the rampant allegations of suspicious logging in various areas on the east coast of the state, whistleblowers are coming forward but the authorities are keeping mum.
The areas that have been mentioned where timber is being extracted are reportedly open for “mosaic planting” and as such falls under the authority of the Forestry Department on recommendation of Yayasan Sabah.
“About 100,000 hectares of Yayasan Sabah forest (are) opened for mosaic plantings and a few companies awarded the concessions,” they said.
The companies named in the report are:
1) Usahawan Borneo Greenwood Sdn Bhd (3,000 hectares).
2) Beta Bumi Sdn Bhd (20,151 hectares)
3) Bakat Saga Sdn Bhd ( 2,288 hectares)
4) Empayar Kejora Sdn Bhd ( 27,000 hectares)
5) Indah Serimas Sdn Bhd (15,000 hectares)
6) Barisan Aman Sdn Bhd (residual logging at yt 2/04)
7) Ikhlas Kinabalu Sdn Bhd (residual logging at Yt 2/03)
8) TSH Resources Sdn B hd (24,557 hectares) for oil palm plantation.
9) Rinukut Sdn Bhd (5,000 hectares) for oil palm plantation.
Another thing that has surfaced is the issuance of licenses for operating sawmills or veneer mills in the forest areas. At least two are known to be operating within these areas far from prying eyes.
The Forestry Department has yet to explain how it can be sure the mills, which are isolated in the forest, are not processing any illegal logs.
“From the cases of illegal logging reported in mosaic plantings area, this could be the tip of the iceberg as most of the areas which are supposedly protected are now being encroached,” Chan and Kong said.
With the planned conversion of more forest areas into oil palm plantations, the loss of timber royalties is expected to grow even as currently forested areas diminish.
Concerns over affect illegal logging is having on wildlife in the area as highlighted by the mysterious deaths of 14 elephants at a nearby the plantation area has raised questions over the justification for more plantations in the forest lands.
Both Chan and Kong said it is open secret that there are illegal activities and serious leakages within the system managed by the Forestry Department and Yayasan Sabah which have resulted heavy losses in revenue to the state.
Timber royalty, they said had dropped over 60% from RM 465 million in 2005 to RM 173 million in 2012 even though it is widely known that logging is continuing sureptiously.
Sri Tanjong assemblyman Chan Foong Hin and PKR Tawau branch chairman Kong Hong Ming said despite two police reports lodged on Sept 30, the Sabah Forestry Department had yet to respond to two cases of suspected illegal logging at Yayasan Sabah concessions area operated by Barisan Aman Sdn Bhd.
“It was reported that logging activities happen at night or more than a year. Veneer was processed at the mobile mill there which is owned by Wincojaya Sdn Bhd. Most of the veneer processed is sent to Rajang Plywood Sdn Bhd in Sg Udin, Brumas, about 30km from Tawau town,” they said, based on the police report.
The second report refers to alleged illegal logging at Kuamut forest. In this case the number of log felled do not tally with the report. Logs from Kuamut forest, they said, was sent to two mills in Telupid, about 72 kilometres from Kuamut area.
According to the two opposition politicians, who have joined forces to get to the bottom of the rampant allegations of suspicious logging in various areas on the east coast of the state, whistleblowers are coming forward but the authorities are keeping mum.
The areas that have been mentioned where timber is being extracted are reportedly open for “mosaic planting” and as such falls under the authority of the Forestry Department on recommendation of Yayasan Sabah.
“About 100,000 hectares of Yayasan Sabah forest (are) opened for mosaic plantings and a few companies awarded the concessions,” they said.
The companies named in the report are:
1) Usahawan Borneo Greenwood Sdn Bhd (3,000 hectares).
2) Beta Bumi Sdn Bhd (20,151 hectares)
3) Bakat Saga Sdn Bhd ( 2,288 hectares)
4) Empayar Kejora Sdn Bhd ( 27,000 hectares)
5) Indah Serimas Sdn Bhd (15,000 hectares)
6) Barisan Aman Sdn Bhd (residual logging at yt 2/04)
7) Ikhlas Kinabalu Sdn Bhd (residual logging at Yt 2/03)
8) TSH Resources Sdn B hd (24,557 hectares) for oil palm plantation.
9) Rinukut Sdn Bhd (5,000 hectares) for oil palm plantation.
Another thing that has surfaced is the issuance of licenses for operating sawmills or veneer mills in the forest areas. At least two are known to be operating within these areas far from prying eyes.
The Forestry Department has yet to explain how it can be sure the mills, which are isolated in the forest, are not processing any illegal logs.
“From the cases of illegal logging reported in mosaic plantings area, this could be the tip of the iceberg as most of the areas which are supposedly protected are now being encroached,” Chan and Kong said.
With the planned conversion of more forest areas into oil palm plantations, the loss of timber royalties is expected to grow even as currently forested areas diminish.
Concerns over affect illegal logging is having on wildlife in the area as highlighted by the mysterious deaths of 14 elephants at a nearby the plantation area has raised questions over the justification for more plantations in the forest lands.
Both Chan and Kong said it is open secret that there are illegal activities and serious leakages within the system managed by the Forestry Department and Yayasan Sabah which have resulted heavy losses in revenue to the state.
Timber royalty, they said had dropped over 60% from RM 465 million in 2005 to RM 173 million in 2012 even though it is widely known that logging is continuing sureptiously.
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