Thursday, June 27, 2002

No illegal logging in Benta Wawasan concession, says Chong Kah Kiat

Utusan Malaysia
27-6-2002

KOTA KINABALU June 26 - Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat said today that there are no illegal logging activities in the Benta Wawasan Sdn Bhd timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the state cabinet meeting here, Chong said that an offence had not been committed in the area, where the concession holders were allowed to log and the government was not deprived of royalty as alleged.

He was asked to comment on the report submitted to him by the Forestry Department and State Attorney-General's Office on alleged illegal logging activities in the concession area.

It was previously reported that the Special Unit in the State Security Division has intercepted more than 1,000 logs in the concession area over alleged contravention of the Sabah Forestry Enactment.

One of the operators in the concession area, reportedly aligned to a prominent Sabah politician, allegedly attempted to stop the authority from taking action as well as trying to evade payment of timber royalty that may affect the state's revenue.

Chong has also stated earlier that the name of the prominent Sabah politician allegedly linked to the logging contractors as reported, was not mentioned in the report.

At the same event, Chong also said that he had received letters from Singapore International Foundation (SIF) executive director Dr Tan Chi Chiu and Wildlife Reserves Singapore chief executive officer Bernard Harrison expressing regret over what were uttered by Tan Kit Sun, conservation curator of the Singapore Zoological Gardens, on June 17, this year.

Tan, who headed a SIF-supported youth expedition team was in Sabah to work together with SOS Rhino Sabah and the Sabah Wildlife and Forestry Department to conduct a survey on the endangered Sumatran Rhino.

He has told reporters that the team discovered traces of logging trails, a bulldozer and some round logs that were felled earlier in the Tabin Wildlife Reserve which suggested that illegal logging activities and poaching could have taken place in the area.

Dr Tan said: "Our view is that he (Tan) should not have made those statements in the press. It was inappropriate, insensitive, unhelpful and has caused embarrassment to the partner organisations as well as the Government of Sabah."

Dr Tan said that Tan's statements were made entirely in his personal capacity and the conservation curator does not represent the views of the SIF.

Saturday, June 22, 2002

Illegal Loggers Alerted by Report

By Ruben Sario
June 22nd, 2002
From the Star

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is not happy about the way a group of Singaporeans had raised the issue of illegal logging at the Tabin Wildlife Reserve, near here.

"How do they expect us to nab the illegal loggers if they leak it (the matter) out to everyone?" asked Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat.

If the Singaporeans, who included the island republic's Zoological Gardens curator Tan Kit Sun, were serious about wanting to stop the illegal logging at Tabin, they should have reported the matter quietly to the state Forestry Department rather than talking about it in their media, he said.

On Monday, Tan had reportedly said that the Singaporeans had spotted felled trees, tractors and tracks made by heavy machinery during a 10-day stay in the wildlife reserve.

Noting that the wildlife reserve was surrounded by oil palm plantations, he said there were many approaches for loggers to enter the area.

Tan reportedly said they were involved in a research project, supposedly being carried out jointly by the SOS Rhino, the Singapore Zoo and the Sabah Wildlife Department to determine the actual number of Sumatran rhinos in the state.

He had reportedly said that it was estimated that there were 50 rhinos at Taman Negara in the peninsula, about 80 in Sumatra and some 30 in Sabah, adding that the Sumatran rhino was a critically endangered species which could end up extinct in the next decade.

"What they have done is only to alert the illegal loggers who would have fled by now," said Chong of the Singaporeans' report.

"So it appears that they (the Singaporeans) are not genuine and were going for cheap publicity," Chong told reporters upon his return here yesterday after attending the opening of the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur.

Chong said reports about the illegal logging at the 120,000ha wildlife reserve were "nothing new'' as the Forestry Department was already carrying out investigations into the matter.


Friday, June 14, 2002

Benta Wawasan Logs - What Happen Now?

We are very pleased to learn from Daily Express dated 7th June 2002 that the Special Unit in the State Security Division has intercepted more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau, on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment recently.

The Special Unit has been set up under the preview of Chief Minister's Department to help the Forestry Department in tackling the rampant illegal logging activities described by Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat as among "the three sins that need to be eliminated."

We would also like to congratulate Daily Express for highlighting such news proving once again, that Daily Express has acted without fear or favour.

The Chief Minister has kept his promise to eliminate the three sins. The on going Ops Nyiah II has been very successful and received overwhelmed support from all walks of life both in the state as well as at national level.

Having taken such stern actions against illegal immigrants, we certainly hope that similar actions will be taken against illegal loggers in the state. To act without fear or favour is very much needed and awaited against arrogant illegal loggers not only to safeguard the rights of the people but also to preserve the environment and the natural rainforests of our beloved Sabah, Land Below The Wind.

In fact, timber firms through out the country have urged the government, both state and federal to do more to curb illegal logging, which has flooded the timber market with cheap logs and sent many companies into bankruptcy. The rights and interests of these genuine timber companies must be protected.

However, as reported in the local dailies, “It was very reliably learnt that one of the contractors involved is aligned to a "top Sabah politician" and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them”. These contractors not only challenged the law but also going round using the names of top politicians in the state for their own selfish gains and interests.

Such allegations have badly tarnished the image of Sabah political leaders including the Chief Minister himself. With the foreign news eyeing at us and trying to find faults with us at every opportunity available, such piece of news is certainly damaging, but unavoidable. The confidence of the people in Sabah is also being eroded.

Law abiding timber companies are also subjected to public scrutiny since no names have been mentioned. The Chief Minister was right in asking for names of those involved, the contractors as well as the “top Sabah politician”, if it was true. The genuine leaders and followers alike, who always have the interests of the people in their priority, must not be dragged into such ugly acts. Justice must be given to them and their rights must be protected at all times.

We therefore, call on the state government to make public all reports on the investigation. The good image of the Barisan Nasional leaders must be preserved. The culprits must be brought to court and charge accordingly. We do not want to see history repeats itself where cases involving big names are swept under the carpet. We even hope that the Chief Minister will boldly remove his carpet to show transparency.

Even though illegal logging involves bigger names and stronger influence compared to illegal immigrants but there must not be selective action or selective justice when protecting the rights of the people and the state is concerned. Our Chief Minister must prove to the people of Sabah, whom he has vowed to serve, that no stone is left unturned in the process of fighting against illegal logging. The similar momentum for Ops Nyiah II must be continued.

With the Chief Minister’s good track of record thus far, We are very confident that the people of Sabah will stand firm behind the State Government in its efforts to combat all form of illegalities and irregularities. The people are eagerly waiting to witness another episode of long awaited action from the state government against illegal logging.

One week has passed since the news was reported. The people are all waiting.

Sunday, June 09, 2002

Sabah govt hopes to get illegal logging report next week

Utusan Malaysia
9-6-2002

KOTA KINABALU June 8 - The Sabah government expects a full report from the Forestry Department on the seizure of more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.

The logs were seized by the Special Unit in the State Security Division set up under the purview of the Chief Minister on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment.

"I'm waiting for the report. I hope to get the report by next week," Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat told reporters after opening the eighth global Nanyang University Alumni reunion here today.

Chong said that he wants to have the report as soon as possible because the issue had been played up publicly.

A local newspaper reported that a team of the Special Unit got into action after receiving a tip-off during last week's long holiday that three timber companies assigned to log the area were suspected to be involved in illegal logging activities, like cutting down trees below the permitted girth of measurement.

Benta Wawasan is one of the companies of Sabah Foundation's investment arm, involved in logging activities within a more than 200,000-ha concession area earmarked for a joint-venture pulp and paper project between the state government and a China-based company.

When asked on the type of action to be taken against the offenders, Chong said that it would be all sorts of action including cancelling the logging permit, imposing compounds as well prosecution.

The news report also said that one of the contractors involved was aligned to a prominent Sabahan politician and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.

However, Chong said: "I want names ... I don't want speculation, I don't want innuendos."

Asked whether there will be any compromise in respect of the offenders, Chong said: "I have been doing this for the last 12 months ... I've been hitting everybody."

Chong previously vowed to clean "three sins" - illegal logging, illegal immigrants and fish bombings - in Sabah.

Saturday, June 08, 2002

1,000 Benta Wawasan logs seized

Kota Kinabalu: The Special Unit in the State Security Division has intercepted more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau, on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment.

It was very reliably learnt that one of the contractors involved is aligned to a "top Sabah politician" and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.

Benta Wawasan is one of Yayasan Sabah's investment arms involved in logging activities within an area of more than 200,000 hectares earmarked for a joint venture pulp paper project between the State Government and a China-based company.

Under specific arrangements, Benta Wawasan has appointed several timber companies to carry out tree felling activities in the proposed area, which later raised a controversy due to the absence of a compulsory Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

It was understood that a team from the Special Unit swung into action during last week's long holiday break following a tip-off that three timber companies assigned to log the area had been suspected of indulging in illegal activities.

Sources claimed that some 300 logs were said to have been felled below the permitted girth measurement and, at the same time, the company concerned had even attempted to evade payment of timber royalty that would have affected State revenue.

It was also learnt that all the seized logs were being strictly guarded by personnel from the Special Unit pending investigations.

The Special Unit has been set up under the preview of Chief Minister's Department to help the Forestry Department in tackling the rampant illegal logging activities described by Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat as among "the three sins that need to be eliminated."

Chong recently announced the acquisition of the services of a former senior police officer to help strengthen the Special Units of the State Security Division.

DAILY EXPRESS NEWS 8th June 2002

A full report on Benta illegal logging awaited

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government expects a full report from the Forestry Department on the seizure of more than 1,000 logs inside the Benta Wawasan timber concession area in Luasong, Tawau.

The logs were seized by the Special Unit in the State Security Division set up under the purview of the Chief Minister on suspicion of contravening the Sabah Forestry Enactment.

"I'm waiting for the report. I hope to get the report by next week," Chief Minister Datuk Chong Kah Kiat told reporters after opening the eighth global Nanyang University Alumni reunion here Saturday.

Chong said he wants to have the report as soon as possible because the issue had been played up publicly.

A local newspaper reported that a team of the Special Unit got into action after receiving a tip-off during last week's long holiday that three timber companies assigned to log the area were suspected to be involved in illegal logging activities, like cutting down trees below the permitted girth of measurement.

Benta Wawasan is one of the companies of Sabah Foundation's investment arm, involved in logging activities within a more than 200,000-ha concession area earmarked for a joint-venture pulp and paper project between the State Government and a China-based company.

The joint-venture, however, has yet to materialise and Chong had said that it might be scrapped if the Chinese company still refuses to accept Sabah's proposition in the RM4.56bil project.

When asked on the type of action to be taken against the offenders, Chong said it would be all sorts of action including cancelling the logging permit, imposing compounds as well prosecution.

The news report also said that one of the contractors involved was aligned to a prominent Sabahan politician and attempts have been made to stop the authority concerned from taking action against them.

However, Chong said: "I want names...I don't want speculation, I don't want innuendoes."

Asked whether there will be any compromise in respect of the offenders, Chong said: "I have been doing this for the last 12 months...I've been hitting everybody."

Chong previously vowed to clean "three sins" – illegal logging, illegal immigrants and fish bombings – in Sabah. – Bernama