Adviser of the Kelantan Loggers Association Roshaimi Razak said logging activities in the area did not involve lands that belonged to Orang Asli.
“Komplex Perkayuan Kelantan (KPK) Sdn Bhd was granted a concession by the state government for timber production in the Balah Permanent Forest Reserve,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.
Roshaimi was asked to comment on the group of Orang Asli who put up blockages to prevent the logs from being taken out of the logging area.
The Orang Asli group claimed the logging activities had caused water contamination in the nearby river and rapid extinction of the forest area.
Roshaimi said logging activities were located far from the Orang Asli settlements and they were in accordance with the conditions set by the Department of Forestry.
He also added that after learning of the Orang Asli’s attempts to stop the logs from being transported out, the association together with the police, Kelantan Forestry Department and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) visited the scene on Wednesday.
He denied allegations that shots were fired during the meeting and that his association was using gangsters to intimidate people.
Meanwhile, commenting on the same issue, Kelantan Forestry Department Director Zahari Ibrahim confirmed that logging carried out at Balah Permanent Forest Reserve was legal and did not involve Orang Asli reserve land.
He advised the Orang Asli to lodge complaints to his department if the logging activities were affecting them and caused environmental pollution so that action could be taken against the company involved.
Meanwhile, in Gua Musang, Nenggiri State Assemblyman Mat Yusof Abdul Ghani wanted the issue resolved through dialogue between the logging company and the Orang Asli community.
He said the matter had been raised by the Orang Asli community for some time but the logging company had refused to listen.
“The Orang Asli also have the right to voice their concerns when their village and livelihood are threatened with logging and pollution of the river for so long.”
He admitted that almost all the forests surrounding Pos Tohoi had been approved for logging for the past several years.