BATU GAJAH: More Forestry Department enforcement personnel will be hired to help ensure that the forest reserves in the state are not trespassed on, says Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad.
The Perak Mentri Besar said more enforcement personnel would be deployed to prevent illegal intrusions into forest reserves.
"The forest reserves are not fenced up, some enter at night, while others abuse their good relationship with the Orang Asli to enter the forests," he said in a press conference after launching the Aeon Credit Service (M) Bhd Afforestation Programme at Kinta Nature Park in Batu Gajah on Saturday (May 11).
"They can enter (easily) unless we have sufficient enforcement personnel to monitor this," he added.
Saarani was asked to comment on enforcement efforts after eight people from Terengganu were each fined RM7,000 by the Kuala Kangsar Magistrate Court on Thursday (May 9) for entering the Banding Forest Reserve without a permit in March.
The eight individuals were believed to have been involved in illegal fish bombing activities in the forest reserve.
Saarani said the state was committed to the conservation of forests.
He said as of March 31, the total area of permanent forest reserves was about 988,827ha, which represented 96.4% of forested areas in the state.
"In 2023, the state government has gazetted about 4,656ha of new permanent forest reserve land, involving about 4,520ha of terrestrial forests and about 135ha of mangrove swamp forests," he said.
"The additional areas thus maintains Perak's status as the state with the highest number of permanent forest reserves in Peninsular Malaysia, which is 47%," he added.
He also said that the state would add more state parks if the need arises.
"Apart from the Kinta Nature Park, we have two other state parks in Royal Belum and Pulau Sembilan.
"If there is a need to protect, preserve and manage some forests, we will include these (as state parks)," he added.
Saarani also said that the state had planted about 7.88 million trees since January 2021.
He said the trees were planted under the 100 Million Trees Planting Programme, with the collaboration of non-governmental organisations and corporate companies.
"Our aim is to plant two million trees each year, which would be six million trees.
"We have achieved more than the target," he said.
"I believe our target to plant 100 million trees can be achieved," he added.
