In a notice issued yesterday by its director Mohd Hizamri Mohd Yasin, the department said it decided to issue a stop-work order on all logging-related activities in the state starting Jan 3 until further notice.

“You are requested to take immediate action to temporarily halt this (logging activities) so as to lessen the impact on production areas and workers’ safety,” Hizamri said in the notice sighted by FMT.

“Action will be taken against licence holders found violating this order. They can be charged under the National Forestry Act 1984.”

The department has been criticised after massive amounts of wood debris was found in the Telemong area, which some have claimed was a result of illegal and uncontrolled logging activities.

On Dec 30, the department denied that the wood debris was a result of logging activities, stating that it was instead debris from water surge incidents in Sungai Temeriak, Sungai Kerau and Sungai Timbul on Dec 18.

“The aerial survey also found many traces of landslides in hilly areas within the Lentang reserve. These carried soil, rocks and trees that drifted into Sungai Temeriak, Sungai Kerau and Sungai Timbul due to very strong water currents,” the department said.

It added that field inspections found tree trunks and wood waste from various species, including forest trees and durian, rubber and oil palm trees.