Posted on 16 May 2016 - 04:35pm
Last updated on 16 May 2016 - 05:52pm
Aaron Nguinewsdesk@thesundaily.com
GEORGE TOWN: A Barisan Nasional assemblyman urged the state government to step up its game on tackling hill clearing activities.
Shariful Azhar Othman (Bertam – BN) cited Bukit Relau as an example and said he hopes the state administration would learn its lesson from that particular episode of illegal hill clearing.
He noted that mitigation works were being done but expressed his worry mitigation activities will cause "permanent baldness" on the hill.
Shariful said the original clearing activities affected about 8ha and claimed mitigation may have involved up to 20ha of land.
"I hope the state will learn from this mistake," he said while Muhamad Farid Saad (Pulau Betong – BN) noted that mitigation works will cost the developer up to RM50 million.
Wong Hon Wai (Air Itam – DAP) countered that federal laws on such matters should be tightened instead.
He said current legislation was insufficient to address the issue and agreed with the suggestion that increased penalties will be better deterrents.
"Federal laws must be reviewed and be more strict," he said, while holding up a report on logging in Ulu Muda, Kedah.
In a related development, Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) CEO Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa urged the federal government to advise the Kedah administration to stop logging at Ulu Muda.
He said the area was an important water catchment area for Penang and Kedah and should be gazetted as such.
Jaseni urged the relevant authorities to take a far sighted approach in the matter, pointing out that revenues generated from logging was about RM30 million to RM50 million per year.
http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1803632
