Blame loggers for illegal activities, not MBI, says Kedah MB

Kedah Menteri Besar Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah today denied the logging activities at the Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve in Sik was due to breach of conditions by Menteri Besar Incorporated (MBI).

He said it was believed that some loggers had violated the terms and procedures set by cutting down trees outside the permitted area after the tree cutting contract was granted to them by MBI.

“It's not MBI that violates the terms but the loggers... MBI has granted (the tree cutting contract) to the loggers, they have to take the responsibility…as such, we want a stop to tree cutting until further notice," he told reporters after the Back to School programme organised by Hotel Seri Malaysia, Alor Setar yesterday.

Ahmad Bashah said throughout his tenure as the Kedah Menteri Besar, he had never approved even a single acre of forest reserve land in the state for the plantation project.

“This plantation area was approved by the previous state government and former menteri besar Mukhriz Mahathir."

- Bernama