He said this was due to the government’s proactive action which focused on protecting the country’s natural resources.

“Although forests come under the state government, in terms of administration and management, they are under the state forestry departments and the federal forestry department of Peninsular Malaysia, which control each production licence.

“There is no denying the fact that there is illegal encroachment of forests but monitoring and enforcement are being carried out against these illegal loggers,” he said.

He spoke to reporters after visiting former Kelantan FA coach Hashim Mustapha, who was the country’s prolific striker of the 1990s, at his residence near Kampung Guchil Bayam here today.

Takiyuddin, who is also Kota Bharu MP, said no new forest plantations had been licensed by any state following the implementation of a 15-year moratorium on approvals for new forest plantations in permanent forest reserves in the peninsula recently.

Takiyuddin said 27 million trees of various species were planted nationwide last year under the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign 2021-2025.