Energy, natural resources ministry to head Baling floods probe

 

The Energy and Natural Resources Ministry will take on the role of lead agency in carrying out investigations into the recent floods in Baling, Kedah.

Its minister Takiyuddin Hassan said the ministry just received the instruction from the Prime Minister’s Office through the Office of the Chief Secretary to the Government.

“This is reasonable because there are many related departments under the ministry, such as the Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia, Department of Minerals and Geosciences, Department of Survey and Mapping, Department of Wildlife and National Parks (Perhilitan) and various other relevant departments.

“This will be chaired by the chief secretary to the government (Mohd Zuki Ali) but the ministry will be the lead agency,” he said when winding up the debate on the National Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2022 at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Takiyuddin Hassan

He said he would ensure that the results of the investigation regarding the floods would be released to the public as soon as possible.

The floods in Baling on July 4 affected 41 areas and claimed the lives of three people, including a pregnant 23-year-old.

‘Nothing stopping white paper’

On the proposed tabling of a White Paper on the tragedy, as raised by Wong Hon Wai (Pakatan Harapan-Bukit Bendera), Takiyuddin said there was no obstacle for the government to table it in Parliament.

“The process now is a preliminary investigation. If the investigation shows there is a need for a White Paper, the government has no obstructions… I will make sure of that,” he said.

Earlier, Takiyuddin said when tabling the National Forestry (Amendment) Bill for the second reading that it was aimed at controlling the process of gazetting and replacing permanent forest reserves, strengthening forest enforcement to combat unauthorised taking of forest products, besides increasing fines and punishment as well as additional penalties to curb forest offences that can damage the environment.

It is also to overcome the issue of ambiguity and unclear powers as well as to improve the schedule contained in the law to further strengthen the management and enforcement of forestry.

The National Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2022 was then unanimously passed in Dewan Rakyat.

- Bernama