What happened to the trees?

What happened to the trees?

TANJUNG KARANG, MALAYSIA: More than 650 hectares of forest reserve and state land, at three different sites, have been ravaged and logged under the noses of the Forestry Department.

The Selangor government has launched a full-scale investigation into the scandal.

The ravaged sites at the Raja Musa and Tanjung Karang Forest Reserves are important water catchment areas.

Their destruction can adversely affect rice yields in Tanjung Karang and Sekinchan.

Selangor executive councillor for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Entrepreneur Development Yaakob Sapari said the destruction was irresponsible and illegal.

"This has been going on for between two and three years.

"However, the authorities have not done anything to curb it."

Yaakob said an investigation was under way to find out why authorities had turned a blind eye to the destruction.

"The Forestry Department had issued fines and seized excavators of the culprits but nothing concrete was done to stop the deforestation."

Yaakob yesterday toured peat swamps, which had been devastated at the Raja Musa Forest Reserve, with Sekinchan assemblyman Ng Swee Lim.

The site borders padi fields in Tanjung Karang, while Sungai Tengi, which flows through the area, is an important water source for farmers.

"I have ordered the department to cordon off the entrances into the encroached sites and to immediately start reforestation activities."

Yaakob said all relevant authorities would be ordered to monitor the sites to prevent further destruction.

Ng suspects politically-linked syndicates were behind the deforestation.

"It is learnt they logged the area before selling small lots to unsuspecting buyers for between RM8,000 and RM8,500."

The buyers were then assured they would be able to obtain temporary occupation licences for the land, from the previous state government.

Ng said he has received several complaints from those who have been hoodwinked into buying the land but they were afraid of the syndicate and have refused to lodge an official report.

"We believe at least 100 people have been conned into buying the land, while the syndicate made a killing by raking in millions of ringgit," said Ng.