MB looking into project in forest reserve claim

IPOH: The state government will not allow any detrimental activity to take place at any sensitive area of a forest reserve, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.

The Perak Mentri Besar was responding to a proposed project by a company for logging and mining at the Kenderong forest reserve in Hulu Perak.

He said he would be getting a complete report on the matter from Mentri Besar Inc (MBInc).

“We respect the concerns raised by Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) over the proposed project.

“If the area mentioned is indeed an environmentally sensitive area, of course such activities cannot be carried out there.

“But before I can make any comments, I need to get a complete picture from the relevant departments and agencies first,” he told a press conference after a dialogue session with members of Sahabat Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia here yesterday.

Saarani was asked to comment on SAM’s statement on Friday objecting to the proposed project on a 245ha plot site in an environmentally sensitive area.

SAM president Meenakshi Raman had said that according to the cover page of the environment impact assessment (EIA) report, the mining leaseholder was MBInc.

Saarani, however, said it was not that simple to carry out mining even if a licence is secured, as the final say would always be after the EIA report is out.

As for a permanent forest reserve, he said it is categorised into production and protection forests.

“Under the production forests category, logging is allowed. We will have to look into all factors before making any decision,” he added.