Kedah asks for RM100mil redress to stop logging

The Kedah government has asked the federal government to pay RM100 million as compensation for halting logging activities in the state.

Menteri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak claimed the compensation was promised by then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad but it was never fulfilled.

“Why all the fuss? Just pay us RM100 million as promised. During Pak Lah’s (Abdullah Ahmad Badawi) tenure it dropped to RM60 million. The matter was not pursued after Mahdzir Khalid became the menteri besar.

“Kedah has rights over the forest. Moreover, logging does not involve the watersheds, only the forest reserves,” he told reporters after chairing the state exco meeting at Wisma Darul Aman in Alor Setar today.

However, Azizan said the promises were made orally and the former menteris besar never claimed them.

On another note, he said the Kedah state assembly would not be dissolved as long as the prime minister did not dissolve parliament.

Pakatan Rakyat would have a general manifesto while the Kedah manifesto would be a bit different to suit local politics.

The terms of Kedah state exco members end on Feb 28. The swearing-in ceremony will be held four days earlier before Kedah Regency Council chairperson Tunku Annuar Sultan Badlishah.

- Bernama