ALOR STAR: Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor has brushed off claims that logging activities in forest reserves have led to mud floods in several districts in Kedah.
Sanusi hit back at the parties concerned for "taking advantage of the situation" while reiterating that no new logging approvals had been approved by the state government since he assumed office in 2022.
He stressed that whenever floods occur in the state, there are always parties who would link the disaster to logging, even though such disasters also happen in other states.
"There are floods in Kuala Lumpur, Perak, and Penang, and there's no logging in those places.
"I saw a post claiming that the (logging) licence was approved in 2023, but the licence mentioned was approved in 2016.
"The 2023 licence is for tree felling, not for logging approval. The approval was given in 2016, the premium was paid, boundary marking was done, and only then was the felling licence issued… all concession areas were approved between 2011 and 2020.
"Every year, the Forestry Department processes felling licences based on quotas approved by the National Land Council.
"Under the 12th Malaysia Plan, Kedah was allocated 4,200 ha per year for logging, so the Forestry Department issues felling licences accordingly," he told reporters after attending the state-level Children's Day, Persons with Disabilities Day, and Senior Citizens Day Celebration at Seri Mentaloon here today.
Sanusi said the state government is aware of the current situation and continues to protect the 18,000 ha of forest reserves approved for logging by the previous administration.
"Rimba Teloi alone has approval for a 4,000 ha forest plantation. In total, 28,000 ha were allocated for forest plantations… 10,000 have been logged, and we are protecting the remaining 18,000 ha.
"Unless there is approval for an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, we will not permit any further logging, even though approvals were given in the past.
"The approval for Rimba Teloi was given between 2011 and 2017, and no new approvals have been issued," he said.
Sanusi added that all logging activities are monitored by the Kedah State Forestry Department in accordance with enforced regulations.
"As for forest plantations and the issue of durian planting, it's nothing new – it's all old matters. Once the trees have been planted, am I supposed to go and chop down the durian trees? That would be crazy! If one is going to be crazy, let's not drag others into the madness as well.
"I was informed that the Forestry Department will be providing an explanation (on clear-cutting in the Ulu Muda Forest Reserve) to the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who will be visiting the Rimba Teloi Forest Reserve in the next two or three days.
"I also understand that Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (Grass) Kedah-chapter chairman Mohd Sobri Ramlee will be invited to accompany Nik Nazmi during the visit, so any claims he has can be addressed at that time," he said.
Sanusi claimed that mud floods can occur even in the absence of logging activities.
"This is the law of nature, created by Allah. Nature operates according to what Allah has created, and we manage it as best as we can.
"The Forestry Department has its technical and environmental experts who provide advice. Of course, all regulations in Malaysia are made with input from experts. Let's not blow issues out of proportion just because we know a little bit and act like we know everything," he said.
Earlier, Sobri claimed that logging activities currently being carried out in forest reserves are among the contributors to the severe floods that have affected Sik and Baling districts.