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'No Illegal Logging in Sukau Forest'

Posted on: Thursday, 4 August 2005, 00:00 CDT

KOTA KINABALU, Wed. - The Sabah Government today denied that a

5,200-hectare tract of forest in the Lower Kinabatangan Wildlife

Sanctuary in Sukau had been encroached by illegal loggers.

Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat (picture) said the

26,000-hectare sanctuary was inspected following a report in a national

daily on July 25 that 20 per cent of its forest had been illegally logged.

"We found that 121 hectares had been cleared in the area but not all of

it was within the sanctuary."

Moreover, that clearing had been done several years ago and had long

since ceased.

On felled logs being found in the vicinity as reported, Chong, who is

also Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister, said 30 logs were found.

"Of the total, 16 were sunken logs, nine old logs and five were freshly

cut," he said, adding that the sunken logs had been taken out of Sungai

Menanggul by villagers in the Sukau area.

Chong said the villagers had done so on their own initiative as Sungai

Menanggul was a popular tourist spot.

"I think the villagers are among the most environment-conscious

community in Sabah and would surely not allow activities such as illegal

logging within Sukau."

Officials of the departments of Forestry, Wildlife and Natural

Resources carried out the inspection from July 27 and have compiled a

report.

Source: New Straits Times

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