The Pahang state government has denied the existence of logging activities in the Bentong forest, but a logging permit at the site painted a different picture.
When Malaysiakini visited the site located near the Kuala Raka Forest Reserve together with Bentong MP Wong Tack, a notice board stated that the developer is clearing the area to build an affordable housing project.
Wong was alerted about the matter by a hiker who was shocked to discover a road to transport the timber in the forest.
The road stretches for 4.6km and cuts through Raka Hill from west to east. It connects to the central spine road.
Heading west along this road, Malaysiakini and Wong's team discovered a logging site behind Taman Shahbandar Height.
Although a state-wide logging moratorium was issued at the beginning of this month, Taman Shahbandar Height residents complained of hearing trees being felled.
During Malaysiakini's visit on Jan 21, workers were spotted driving an excavator to clear the forest and the logs were later ferried by trucks.
A pile of logs was also seen stacked not far from the logging site.
After being informed of the DAP MP's presence, four men arrived at the site.
Claiming to be a representative of the contractor firm, one of them told Wong that all procedures stipulated by the Forestry Department were adhered to and that the state government would build PR1MA houses in the area.
Logging permit disappears
Notice boards at the site confirmed these claims. Inside the forest, there were two permits issued by the Bentong Forestry Department for the makeshift road.
Meanwhile, three notice boards were erected near Taman Shahbandar Height stating that the site is being cleared for the PR1MA housing project.
One of the items on the boards was a logging permit, which read: "State land for proposal of constructing PR1MA on Lot 4623".
The housing project covers 31.556 hectares, which is about the size of 44 football fields.
However, the permit disappeared three days later. Residents told Malaysiakini that it was removed by two men before dawn on Jan 23.
This was a day after Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail refuted that logging activities were carried out in the Bentong forest and urged two opposition assemblypersons who raised the issue to provide proof.
'Federal govt should end timber export'
Speaking to Malaysiakini during the visit to the site, Wong criticised the state government for lifting the logging moratorium when "the tears of flood victims are still fresh".
He also questioned the rationale of a housing project on a steep hill that could be prone to landslides.
Wong expressed concern that when the Kuala Raka Forest Reserve is cleared and developed, Bentong city, which sits on lower ground level, would experience more severe flooding issues.
"The federal government must intervene and stop (logging activities in Pahang). Stop the export of logs. If we do this, logging activities will stop," he added.
Wong noted how the federal government put its foot down with regard to illegal bauxite mining activities in Kuantan in 2015 and urged it to impose a similar moratorium on logging activities in Pahang.
Although the developer claimed that logging is being carried out on state land, it is situated close to the forest reserve and this prompted Wong to call on the Forestry Department to reveal when the forest reserve land was degazetted into state land.
Furthermore, the MP is worried that the forest reserve's ecosystem would be impacted if the trees here are logged illegally.
"Since the government promised to preserve 50 percent of forest lands in Malaysia, they should mark it on a map and make it public.
"Only then can they show to the national and international community their commitment to preserving the forest," Wong added.
Malaysiakini has contacted the menteri besar for his comments.
Massive flash floods had hit several parts of Pahang, including Bentong, late last month.
When wood debris piled up in the river near Karak Batu 13 and Kampung Sungai Perdak, the Forestry Department denied this was due to logging at the Lentang Forest Reserve as alleged.
Earlier this month, the department imposed a temporary stop-work order on all logging activities.
On Jan 19, DAP's Bilut assemblyperson Lee Chin Chen and Tras assemblyperson Chow Yu Hui highlighted the suspicion of Taman Shahbandar Height residents regarding illegal logging in the area, despite the moratorium. - Mkini
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