20 illegal logging, mining activities during MCO foiled in Pahang

The Pahang Forestry Department has thwarted 20 attempts of illegal logging and gold mining activities throughout the movement control order period and the conditional MCO phase from early March to June 10.

Several of the activities were detected on sites where there had reportedly been previous raids and arrests of illegal miners.

Malay-daily Sinar Harian quoted the state Forestry director Mohd Hizamri Mohd Yasin (above) who identified seven cases found in Kuantan, four in Raub, and three each in Rompin, Temerloh and Lipis.

"The illegal gold mining cases occurred within the Ibam forest reserve in Rompin, as well as the Aur Gading and the Tersang forest reserves.

"This success is due to ceaseless efforts by the district Forestry Department enforcement unit officers, assisted by the state enforcement officers on duty throughout the MCO and the conditional MCO," he said.

Last November, News Straits Times reported that illegal gold miners have been extracting gold nuggets worth nearly half a million ringgit from several spots in the Tersang forest reserve.

At the time, Hizamri said four illegal gold mining sites were discovered in 2018 and two more were found last year.

The four sites were found within the Ibam forest reserve, while the other two were found in the Tersang and the Chini forest reserves.

Sinar Harian also quoted Hizamri as saying that illegal clearing of forest reserve and government reserve land for farming activities were detected in Jengka forest reserve in Maran, while felled logs were also discovered in the Chini forest reserve.

Mohamad Hizamri said the operations also seized several pieces of machinery including mining equipment.

"Throughout the MCO and the conditional MCO, we periodically patrolled the hotspots to ensure that encroachment and illegal extraction of forest produce do not happen.

"These environmental crimes can lead to the destruction of the forests and losses for the government if left unaddressed," he said.

At the same time, Mohd Hizamri also credited public cooperation in channelling information on encroachment as a factor to enforcement officers' successes in detecting the cases.

The latest report today indicated that the illegal activities have been ongoing despite previous crackdowns and arrests, including of foreign citizens.

Encroachment on forest reserves and extraction of forest produce without a licence are a violation of the National Forestry Act 1984 and perpetrators face a fine or a jail term, or both, upon conviction. - Mkini