'Unclaimed timber' procedure applicable to mudflow debris too, says director

 

The posting of unclaimed timber notices for logs washed up in the "timber tsunami" incident near Bentong last month is part of procedures for clearing the debris, said the Pahang Forestry Department.

Its director Mohd Hizamri Mohd Yasin said protocol requires the logs to be collected and for their value to be assessed before disposal can begin.

“This is not limited to timber that had been logged. Clearing the area would also help prevent a second flood there that can worsen the situation.

“The public notice issued by the Bentong Forestry Office is in accordance with the National Forestry Act 1984,” he said yesterday.

Hizamri pointed out that under Section 76 of the Act, the "unclaimed timbers" also refer to timber that had been found adrift, and not necessarily timber that had been felled through logging activities.

He said this in response to Johor PKR Women chief Napsiah Khamis who posted a picture of the notice apparently erected near Sungai Perdak, Pahang, and pictures of the logs with white tags attached to it.

“If these belong to no one, why is there a notice of claim? Who is going to claim these logs? It is even labelled,” she said on Facebook yesterday.

However, Hizamri said under Section 77 of the National Forestry Act, a public notice must be displayed for 14 days for people to file claims and prove their ownership of the logs, which he may approve or reject.

If the debris remains unclaimed at the end of the period, then the state can take ownership of the timber for disposal.

Logging moratorium

Despite the explanation, Napsiah said a moratorium on logging concession approvals must be imposed.

Those affected by the incident should be compensated for their damages. A professional and transparent investigation must be conducted to bring the culprits to justice, she added.

“This incident is an environmental disaster and all parties must learn from this and ensure it does not recur,” she told Malaysiakini.

The wooden debris including logs was washed downstream amid heavy rains between Dec 18 and 19 last year, leading environmental activist Khaidir Ahmad to claim it was due to land clearing activities for illegal Musang King durian plantations in the area.

However, the Pahang Forestry Department denied that the debris was from logging at the Lentang Forest Reserve as alleged.

The department said it was actually debris from the water surge incident in Sungai Temeriak, Sungai Kerau and Sungai Timbul on Dec 18. - Mkini