PARLIAMENT| Jerantut MP Khairil Nizam Khirudin has called on the government to take a serious stand in regulating logging activities, including in his constituency, with a focus on the replanting of trees.
In his debate on the Royal Address, Khairul Nizam (above), who is PAS information chief, said his constituents are faced with threats from wild animals such as monkeys, bears, elephants and boars that escaped the nearby forests where logging activities are carried out.
"On behalf of the people of Jerantut, I urge the ministry in charge to be serious in ensuring that logging is carried out in a controlled manner, particularly in terms of replanting.
"Illegal logging must be immediately stopped and the punishment must commensurate with the destruction caused by the responsible party," he said.
Citing Forestry Department data, Khairul Nizam said Pahang is one of five states in Peninsular Malaysia that recorded the highest number of permanent reserve areas as of 2020.
In Jerantut, he said, the forest has been a source of income for generations of villagers, including youths skilled in harvesting honey, herbs and other natural products for sale.
"I invite MPs who want to come to Jerantut. I will show them the existing forest industry," he added.
In the past, PAS-led state governments in Kelantan and Kedah had come under scrutiny by environmental groups fighting against deforestation, including in permanent forest reserves.
Among others, they questioned whether logging activities had contributed to serious floods, aside from the impact of climate change. - Mkini
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