(MY) mandatory sentences on illegal logging

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From the New Straits Times

 

SHAH ALAM, Wed. (July 4, 1991) - The Selangor

Government will amend the Selangor Forestry Enactment to

impose mandatory sentences on those found guilty of illegal

logging in the State.

 

The decision was arrived at during a State Executive, Council

meeting today and the new amendments are expected to be

enforced at the beginning of next year.

 

Once implemented, Selangor would be the first State to

impose a mandatory jail sentence for the offence.

 

Menteri Besar Tan Sri Muhammad Haji Muhammad Taib

told a Press conference a Bill to amend the enactment would

be tabled in the State Assembly in November.

 

" The mandatory jail sentence will hopefully discourage

unscrupulous people from cutting down our forests, " he said,

adding that existing legislation was not enough of a deterrent.

 

Under the present enactment, those found guilty of the

offence can be fined a maximum of $10,000 or jailed for

three years, or both.

 

The court can also order the offender to pay a sum not

exceeding five times the royalty, premium and cess and a sum

not exceeding three times the value of the trees cut.

 

Tan Sri Muhammad added that the State Government would

inform the Federal Government of its intention to amend the

State forestry law.

 

In another move to discourage illegal logging, the State

Government would offer rewards to informers whose tip-offs

lead to the arrest of illegal loggers.

 

" Details of the incentives are also being worked out and will

be announced at a later date, " he said.

 

" The Menteri Besar has also directed the Selangor Forestry

Department to lodge a police report on the illegal logging in

Ampang to enable the authorities to investigate.

 

He said it was up to the police to determine whether

Usahamaju Enterprise, which holds the permit to log in the

area, was responsible for the illegal felling of trees there.

 

" We will also leave it to the police to determine whether the

company's sole proprietor, Mohd Nor Ahzami @ Mohd

Nor Azmi bin Mohd Yatim of Bandar Baru Sungai Buloh, is

also responsible. "

 

Tan Sri Muhammad had also directed the department to take

disciplinary action against its officers who had neglected their

duties.

 

" I have also told the director (of forestry) to immediately

plant covercrops and trees in the affected areas to prevent

further soil erosion, " he said.

 

The department had also been told to review the methods of

removing and transporting logs from the forest to minimise

damage to young trees.

 

It is understood that the State Government had lost several

million ringgit through the illegal logging in Ampang that has

been going on for more than six months.