SANDAKAN: Sabah Forestry Department has denied allegation that the damage to the Sandakan Rainforest Park here, also known as the Chinese Garden Forest Reserve, was due to illegal logging.
In a statement, the department said a storm on Aug 17 last year had ravaged the park area which resulted in felled trees, as well as destruction of facilities such as trails and bridges.
“Sabah Forestry Department chief conservator Datuk Mashor Mohd Jaini has instructed that a 'gotong-royong' involving staff of Sandakan District Forestry Office and Sepilok Forestry Research Centre be held and replanting of all trees.
“Therefore, the fallen trees need to be cleared to facilitate the replanting process,” said the statement.
It also stated that the department was disappointed that the person behind the viral video had made such allegation, tarnishing the image of the department and state government. –- BERNAMA