Kelantan Forestry Department denies logging activities near tiger habitats

 

The Kelantan Forestry Department's denial –concerning the image of the impact left behind by logging activities near tiger habitats in Pos Bihai, Gua Musang – is beyond their area of expertise.

This was said by Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) president Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil when commenting on the state forestry department’s denial regarding an image - which was recorded by a drone and circulated yesterday.

"Since when did the Kelantan Forestry Department become a subject matter expert (field expert) in the field of tiger hunting, breeding and migration?

"(Making) statements that are beyond the scope of the department's skills is irresponsible and should be stopped by the Kelantan Forestry Department.

"Why did the technical wildlife agency of the Wildlife and National Parks Department of Kelantan and Peninsular Malaysia not issue such a statement?" she told Malaysiakini.

On Jan 7, an Orang Asli man, Anek Along, was killed by a tiger in an incident in Kampung Sau near Pos Bihai.

The incident happened when the victim was pounding paddy with his daughter behind their home.

 It was also recently reported that an NGO had detected logging activities – recorded using drones – in the tiger habitat located near the Orang Asli village in Pos Bihai.

The image from the drone - which belonged to the Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa) - was recorded during their survey at the location from last Monday to Friday.

However, Kelantan Forestry Department director Abdul Khalim Abu Samah reportedly said that while the image taken seemed to be close, it was, in fact, between five to six kilometres from the site of the attack.

Commenting further, Shariffa also questioned whether the Kelantan Forestry Department will continue to issue inaccurate statements to continue to confuse the people.

"Will the Kelantan Forestry Department continue to issue inaccurate statements and those that are not within the scope of the department's skills to confuse the people with the closure of logging activities that destroy natural resources that are currently out of control in Kelantan?" she asked. - Mkini