Hazira Ahmad Zaidi
KOTA BARU: The approval for forest exploration in the state was done according to set procedures and rules, said Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan.
In a press conference yesterday, he said the company appointed for the purpose was also chosen after rigorous screening to conduct forest clearing legally.
Fadzli also clarified that only 48 approvals for forest exploration were granted, not 54, and they were spread out in several areas, and not just in Nenggiri as alleged by state opposition leader Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim.
"The information obtained from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is incorrect; there were only 48 forest exploration approvals, not 54, and they involve several state constituencies," he said.
He explained that all of these approvals were not new, and the state government must go through the EIA process if it wanted to carry out plantation development projects.
This, he added, showed that it was not easy for a company to undertake development projects as they must follow the proper procedures.
On Tuesday, Syahbuddin claimed that the state government had granted 54 forest exploration approvals, covering an area of over 13,000 hectares, since 2022 in Nenggiri.
The Gua Musang Umno division deputy chief said based on EIA approval applications, the new forest exploration approvals had been granted for various purposes, including opening plantations, forest enrichment and mining.