Pahang forestry dept told to increase patrols, monitoring at forest reserves

KUANTAN: The Pahang Forestry Department has been urged to heighten patrols and monitoring at forest reserves following allegations of illegal logging of four logs at the Bukit Galing Forest Reserve in Semambu here.
Semambu assemblyman Lee Chean Chung said the four logs of "meranti" and "damar hitam" types worth over RM100,000 were believed to have been cut down by amateur loggers.
"The illegal logging activity was exposed following reports by the local residents who sighted post-deforestation activity when they went into the forest to look for birds. I've contacted the Forestry Department and asked them to send someone to check the area.
"When we went there to check, the four logs were no longer there," he told reporters after conducting a check at the Bukit Galing Forest Reserve here today.
Lee also urged members of the public with information on the illegal activity to tip-off the authorities and to lodge a report should they encounter the same activity at other forest reserves. — Bernama