Kedah MNS welcomes logging ban

IPOH: The Kedah branch of the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) has welcomed assurances from Perak that logging has been banned in the area near the society's base camp in Sungai Halong in the Temengor forest reserve.

Its vice-chairman Hymeir Kamarudin said the branch would, however, like the state to clarify the exact area which would be protected as a large part of the Temengor forest reserve was a catchment area.

He also lauded the move to turn the Belum forest reserve into a state park, which he said was a step towards forest conservation and eco-tourism.

Hymeir, who was among three MNS members who alerted newspapers after finding a signboard bearing the details of the pre-felling contract awarded to Cenderla Ltd at the campsite, was commenting on Perak Mentri Besar Tan Sri Ramli Ngah Talib's statement that the state had banned logging there for the past four years.

Ramli had also directed the state Forestry Department to investigate the matter.

Two MNS officers who visited the campsite on Thursday said there were signs that logging would be carried out soon as locals said a logging track had been opened and a bridge was being constructed across Sungai Tekam to bring out logs.