Kedah GLC owes a logging premium of RM38 Million

Some Kedah government -linked companies (GLCs) that get logging quotas owe premiums of up to RM38 million to the state government. - NSTP decorative photos

ALOR SETAR: Menteri Besar, Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor revealed that there are state government -linked companies (GLCs) that get logging quotas that owe premium payments of up to RM38 million to the state government.

Muhammad Sanusi (PAS-Jeneri) said, some GLCs acted to sell the logging quota given for several years, but failed to make premium payments to the Kedah State Forestry Department (JPN).

"Becoming the Chief Minister, I have a problem where there are GLCs that are a burden. There are old GLCs that get logging quotas every year but the annual quota has been exhausted. Next year's quota and next year will once again be exhausted.

"Some GLCs under my supervision owe a premium to the Kedah NRD of RM38 million. They have been selling logging quotas for decades, I don't know, but it was made on the grounds of forest plantation projects," he said during the debate in honor of the Sultan of Kedah's speech at the Legislative Assembly. State (DUN) of Kedah today.

There is a GLC under my supervision that owes a premium to JPN Kedah of RM38 million. They are selling logging quotas how many decades I do not know, but it was made on the grounds of the forest plantation project - Sanusi. - NSTP file photos

Muhammad Sanusi said, in terms of the implementation of forest plantations, Kedah is allowed to open forest plantations of about 15,000 hectares compared to the total forest area of ​​106,000 hectares.

"In the substitute forestry policy, we are allowed to open 15 per cent of the total forest but we have exceeded that limit. When I was the Menteri Besar, we already had the approval of 22,000 hectares of forest plantation plans.

"The Peninsular Malaysia Forestry Department has set only seven species of trees to be planted in forest plantations for the country's timber supply, but there are also forest plantations planted with king fox durian trees for the purpose of harvesting the fruit," he said.

Following that, he explained, the state government was bound to implement the forest plantation program because approval had been given in advance without determining the area that could be logged.

He said, if the quota that has been given approval is canceled, then the state government will have to repay the high premium payment and may also be dragged to court by the company involved.

SEPTEMBER 23, 2021 @ 4:08pm

BY M HIFZUDDIN IKHSAN. BERITA HARIAN.