KUALA LUMPUR: Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PH-Port Dickson) has called for a moratorium on logging activities, following its impact on the environment.
He said the moratorium, including on projects that have been approved, should be in force until the government finds that the respective areas are safe for logging activities.
Other than the moratorium, he also called for a freeze on new approvals to be given or logging activities, regardless of rank or political ideologies.
"If the government is assertive in solving the problem, Parliament will give its full support so that the problem will not be prolonged," he said while debating the recent flood disaster during a special sitting in Dewan Rakyat today.
In the same development, Anwar also called on the government to force logging companies to pay compensation if a disaster was caused by logging activities.
"Although they have paid taxes, it was not for the damages caused to the houses. They must compensate the victims," he said.