The integrated enforcement operation to remove the logging blockades at a number of locations in the Balah, Perias and Gunung Stong permanent forest reserves was conducted in accordance with the law.
Kelantan Forestry Department director, Zahari Ibrahim said the erecting of sheds and logging blockades was an offence under Section 32 of the Kelantan Forestry Enactment 1984, by entering and occupying a forest reserve area without permission.
Besides that, he said, the department's officers and staff were prevented from entering the areas involved, hence disrupting its responsibility and tasks of forest rehabilitation, management, monitoring and enforcement in these areas.
"(The blockades) also prevented the taking out of legitimate forest produce including several logs kept in Matau before the order to stop the logging operations came in October," he said in a statement, on Friday.
Zahari said this had also caused the timber logs to depreciate in value, thus reducing revenue and they (the Orang Asli group) had also prevented the workers of the licensed logging operators to enter the areas involved.
He said before the dismantling was conducted, the state government had used several approaches including holding briefing and clarification sessions, hearing the Orang Asli's demands and objections, and holding discussions with the respective mukim (sub-district) penghulu who were appointed after the first blockade was erected on March 27, this year in Pos Gob.
However, he said, more blockades were set up at the logging track entry points, namely in the Matau area at Compartment 260, Perias permanent forest reserve, Compartment 27, and Gunung Stong Selatan forest.
"During the negotiation process, the state government took the drastic action of suspending the forest output operations in the areas involved to enable a thorough study and review, and improvements be carried out," he said.
He said Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Yakob had stated that 973 hectares of land in Pos Gob had been approved as Orang Asli reserve land, but this was still in the process of being gazetted and the area had been marked in the department's plan.
Zahari said 15,000 hectares of permanent forest reserves classified as protected forests were also allowed to become areas for foraging for daily food by the Orang Asli, and further discussions on the matter between the Orang Asli involved and the state government should be through JAKOA.
Meanwhile, he also expressed regret over representatives of certain non-governmental organisations supporting the Orang Asli's blockade action although it was against the law, while claiming to be legal practitioners.
On Tuesday, 47 Orang Asli who had set up logging blockades at Simpang Petei and the entry road to Pos Bihai were detained by police after they refused to budge from the areas during an operation conducted by the state Forestry Department.
The operation to remove the blockades had to be carried out after the negotiation between the state government and Orang Asli reached a deadlock, believed to be due to interference by third parties. - BERNAMA
Bernama
Fri Dec 02 2016
Orang Asli had set up blockades at a number of locations in Gua Musang to prevent logging. - BERNAMApic
Lima penjawat awam direman bantu siasatan kes terima suapan
Lima penjawat awam direman bagi membantu siasatan kes menerima suapan RM3,000 hingga RM15,000 daripada kontraktor berkait kerja pembersihan.
AFPPD pilih Malaysia jadi tuan rumah pejabat sekretariat
Forum Ahli Parlimen Negara Asia Mengenai Populasi dan Pembangunan (AFPPD) memilih Malaysia sebagai pilihan utama untuk menempatkan pejabat sekretariatnya.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: "Nampaknya dia yang 'pergi' dulu..." - Ibu Allahyarham Komander Firdaus
Komander Muhammad Firdaus anak yang bertanggungjawab serta contoh yang baik kepada adik-adik yang lain, malah sangat mengambil berat tentang keperluan keluarga.
EPL: Dua bintang remaja ditahan kerana disyaki merogol
Dua pemain bola sepak Liga Perdana Inggeris telah ditangkap pada hujung minggu kerana disyaki merogol dan melakukan serangan.
Paul Yong fail rayuan kes rogol amah di Mahkamah Persekutuan
Paul Yong memfailkan rayuan di Mahkamah Persekutuan pada 5 Mac lalu, berhubung keputusan Mahkamah Rayuan yang mengekalkan sabitan bersalah merogol pembantu rumah warga Indonesia.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Laporan interim siap dalam masa dua minggu - Fahmi
Menteri Pertahanan akan membuat pengumuman berhubung bantuan yang akan diberikan pada Rabu.
Gadang rayu EPU ketepikan keperluan ekuiti Bumiputera bagi pengambilan tanah Kwasa Damansara
Gadang Holdings Bhd berkata ia akan merayu kepada Unit Perancang Ekonomi (EPU) untuk mengenepikan keperluan ekuiti Bumiputera bagi memudahkan pemilikan tanah seluas 21.08 ekar di Kwasa Damansara.
Doa dan kenangan buat pejuang
Titipan doa Wartawan Ridauddin Daud buat pejuang negara yang meninggal dunia dalam nahas dua helikopter di Pangkalan TLDM. Semoga roh mereka dicucuri rahmat.
PM Vietnam cadang ASEAN jadi model transformasi digital global
Perdana Menteri Vietnam mencadangkan orientasi kejayaan untuk menjadikan ASEAN sebagai model dalam transformasi digital di peringkat global.
Proses bedah siasat selesai, penghormatan terakhir mengikut tradisi tentera laut
Ridauddin Daud membawakan perkembangan terkini penghomatan terakhir kepada 10 mangsa insiden helikopter TLDM yang terhempas di Lumut.