Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said the oil royalty payments estimated at RM700 million a year was more than enough for Kelantan’s development, compared to logging revenue which came to about RM100 million annually.

“Among the reasons why we fell trees is the state revenue is limited. If we get the oil royalty which we are supposed to receive, we might be able to stop all logging activities immediately.

“The Orang Asli communities will also not be disturbed,” he told reporters after chairing a meeting on the “Hari Murabbi Ummah” celebration here.

The state government was recently slapped with a civil suit by the federal government to protect Orang Asli land rights in the state.

Orang Asli communities in the state are unhappy that their land, which is the source of their livelihood, is being encroached into for logging activities.