More S'wak enforcement units to carry firearms
Published on: Thursday, December 18, 2014
KUCHING: The State Government may extend the use of firearms to enforcement officers from the Department of Environment to save forests from timber thieves.Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said the plan would be implemented only if there was a positive outcome from the State Forestry Department, which was commissioned with 50 pump guns by the State Government in its battle against illegal logging.The proposal, Adenan said, was being considered since the environmental department played a pivotal role in forest conservation.
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"If we can arm and train the forestry officers (to use firearms), why not environmental officers as well?"I understand some of them (officers) would be apprehensive about entering forests to act against illegal loggers."We will look into equipping them with police training and arm them with weapons," said Adenan.The state government had announced that it had approved a proposal to supply 50 pump guns to the Forestry Department to step up enforcement against unauthorised land clearing and illegal logging.
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The initiative was among a slew of efforts by the State Government to end illegal logging.Last month, the state government approved an allocation of RM5.07 million in the state's 2015 Budget to acquire 29 four-wheel drive vehicles, four caravans, 50 sets of firearms, uniforms and helicopter rental.
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Adenan said illegal logging was detrimental to the state's environment and ecosystem, triggering landslides, soil erosion as well as water and air pollution."All these are committed by irresponsible loggers. We had underestimated the problem.People should report to the authority if they see activities that destroy the environment, including open burning."If they (the authorities) don't take action, write to me or come to me. I will make sure something is done."He said there was growing concern about environmental issues nationwide after the floods in Cameron Highlands."Today, I am glad that there is more consciousness in protecting the forests and taking care of the environment."Meanwhile, another 20 protected areas will be created here in a bid to reverse habitat degradation.Adenan said he planned to increase the number of national parks, nature reserves and animal sanctuaries in the state."We must remember that while Sarawak belongs to us, it also belongs to the monkeys, the rusa (deer)... they have been here much longer than we have," he said."They have no members in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly. They can't speak for themselves, so human beings must speak for them, okay?"The authorities had in the past underestimated the scale of illegal logging, he said.The state currently has 30 national parks, six wildlife sanctuaries and eight nature reserves, according to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation.These encompass about 593,000ha of land (not including 206,000ha of protected bodies of water) in a state that is 12.4 million hectares in size.It is possible that some of the new areas to be protected will be extensions to existing ones such as the Kubah National Park, where an adjoining section was damaged by illegal logging recently.The last time a national park was extended was in May last year at Pulong Tau, near Miri, while the latest national park was Sampadi, gazetted in December 2010.He said Malaysians had seen more than enough environmental destruction to know that the country had a poor reputation for protecting its natural habitats. He cited last month's deadly Cameron Highlands landslide and 2010's Rejang River logjam as some examples.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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