75,000 Acres Of Trees Will Be Chopped Down In Kedah To Avoid Lawsuits, Says Kedah MB
He said that the trees will be cut over a period of 18 years.
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The Kedah state government will continue previously logging activities involving 75,000 acres of land in the state to avoid legal implications, according to Menteri Besar, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.
He was quoted by Berita Harian as saying that the state government’s decision to continue logging activities, including 25,000 hectares in Ulu Muda, was subject to several conditions, including the opening of annual logging based on the Annual Felling Ration (CTT) that has been set.
Under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK12), the National Land Council has set rations to be limited to 4,200 hectares a year. With a felling ration of 4,200 hectares a year, the period required to cut down all the approved trees involving 75,000 hectares will only end in 18 years.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor via Berita Harian
He was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir (PEJUANG-Jitra) on the state government’s rationale to continue logging activities in Ulu Muda and whether the Kedah government has any other initiative to generate the state economy.
Muhammad Sanusi said the logging activities had to continue as some concessionaires paid premiums of 100%, 75% and 25% and if the approved concession is cancelled, then the state government will have to repay the premium or face court action.
Logging activities in Ulu Muda are carried out in an environmentally friendly method with the use of machines or machinery for harvesting the ‘log fisher’ system as introduced in Pahang. Besides that, Kedah has also increased the buffer distance from 20 meters to 40 meters so that it does not enter the water flow and worsen the situation in the area.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor via Berita Harian
Muhammad Sanusi also explained that the state government has outlined various initiatives in the Kedah Development Plan 2035 such as the development of high-impact projects and new townships that are sustainable and that will have a positive impact, especially on employment opportunities.
This situation will also contribute to the increase in revenue of the state government and local authorities (PBT) through the collection of land tax revenue and gate tax with the existence of new industrial areas and townships in the state without relying on logging activities.
Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor via Berita Harian
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