GUA MUSANG: The Kelantan government is alleged to have approved the clearing of 13,355ha of forest area in Gua Musang since 2022.
Gua Musang Umno deputy chief Mohd Syahbuddin Hashim claimed that this was based on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval by the Environment Department.
"The area covers more than 13,355ha of forest area in Gua Musang, with most of it in Ulu Nenggiri, in Mukim Bertam," he told a press conference here Tuesday (Aug 6).
Mohd Syahbuddin, who is also Galas assemblyman, claimed that there were some discrepancies in the approvals given, including for a 202ha forest farm project awarded to a company that was less than a year old.
The company does not belong to a Kelantan native nor a bumiputra, he claimed.
Mohd Syahbuddin, who is Barisan Nasional (BN) deputy election director for the Nenggiri state by-election, said the state government owed the people in Nenggiri an explanation on the matter.
"For 34 years, the people of Nenggiri, especially the Orang Asli, have endured environmental destruction while the state government reaped the benefits.
"Every year, during the tabling of the state Budget, the Gua Musang district is often overlooked in terms of the people’s welfare, such as affordable housing.
"Gua Musang, especially Nenggiri, seems to have been used as an ATM by the Kelantan government to only obtain funds from logging fees, without providing any benefits to the people there," he said.
On Saturday (Aug 3), PAS denied allegations that the Kelantan government leased land, including logging areas, to outsiders.
The Nenggiri by-election was called after the Kelantan assembly Speaker was informed that its representative, Mohd Azizi Abu Naim, had ceased to be a member of Bersatu on June 13.
The by-election is a straight fight between BN’s Mohd Azmawi Fikri Abdul Ghani and PAS candidate Mohd Rizwadi Ismail.
The Election Commission has fixed polling for Aug 17. - Bernama
