Man arrested for setting fire at forest reserve in Kedah

ALOR SETAR: The Kedah Forestry Department has arrested a 39-year-old man for allegedly setting fire to a forest reserve here to carry out agricultural activities.

Its director Roslan Rani said the man was arrested at about 5pm on March 19 at the Bukit Enggang forest reserve in Sik.

The man was believed to have initially set fire to the forest at noon and was detained by forestry officers on patrol during the movement control order (MCO) period.

"We worked with the Fire and Rescue Department and took five days to put out fires in the area.

"While firemen were busy putting out the fire at the Bukit Enggang forest reserve, another fire was detected at the Terenas forest reserve in Sik on March 22 which started due to hot weather.

"Firemen had a hard time putting out fires in the Terenas forest reserve due to the slopes and a lack of water source.

"A water-bombing approach was used to extinguish the fire and the process is still ongoing," he said in a statement on Saturday (March 28).

Roslan added that the Bukit Perangin forest reserve in Kubang Pasu and the Pedu forest reserve in Padang Terap were also on fire but the blaze was put out using manual methods.

"The total area of the forest reserve on fire was estimated to exceed 49.42 acres, causing a loss of millions of ringgit.

"All of this happened because of greedy individuals for personal interests. They took advantage of the dry season to set the forest reserve on fire and violated the MCO.

"Their purpose was to plant rubber and fruit trees," he said.

Roslan added that the Kedah Forestry Department would take action against anyone starting fires and urged the public and authorities to provide information of such activities.

It is learnt that the man will be investigated under Section 47(1) and Section 82 of the National Forestry Act 1984.