‘MB trying to pin blame on Orang Asli’

PAS believes that in an attempt to dodge responsibility for the illegal logging in the Miku forest reserve, the Negeri Sembilan MB is now blaming the Orang Asli.

KUALA PILAH: PAS believes that Negeri Sembilan Menteri Besar Mohamad Hasan is attempting to pin the blame on the Orang Asli for the illegal logging carried out in the Miku forest reserve.

State PAS commissioner Mohd Taufek Abdul Ghani said: “Mohamad Hasan claims that the illegal logging is done by the Orang Asli. But the Orang Asli don’t have heavy machinery and the capital to do the logging.”

“Mohamad Hasan’s statement is irresponsible and he is trying to escape. He should come out and explain the matter. When I raised this issue in the state assembly sitting in August 2010, the answer given by Mohamad Hasan was that it is illegal logging,” he added.

Meanwhile, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang who was also present during the visit to the site, said it did not make sense for the Orang Asli to do logging in such a large scale.

“To do logging at this scale they need high capital. Furthermore, it doesn’t make sense for Orang Asli to damage the place they earn a livelihood from.

“Just to cover up others’ agenda, the Orang Asli are being blamed. The real culprit must be identified and investigated,” he added.

Negeri Sembilan PAS secretary Mohd Hassan Tamby noted that logging in Miku foerest reserve is now considered legal.

“I don’t understand how earlier in 2010 the logging was classified as illegal but now it becomes illegal? If logging can be done in forest reserves by providing license, so what is the point in calling the forest as forest reserves,” he said.

PKR deputy secretary general T Kumar said Negeri Sembilan’s forests are declining at a rapid rate.

“Every five years, an estimated 5% of forest is cleared in Negeri Sembilan. The rivers in these affected forests is getting drier and this is not good for the ecology in the long term,” he added.