DESPITE allegations of rampant deforestation activities, Perak has in fact managed its forests commendably.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir told the state assembly
sitting here yesterday that the state's per capita forest acreage was
better than the national average.
He said at 0.43ha per person, it was way higher than the national average of 0.2ha per capita.
"This achievement is something that the state can be proud of.
"We will continue our efforts to preserve the forests," he said when
answering a supplementary question from Kenering assemblyman Datuk Mohd
Tarmizi Idris who wanted to know what had been done by the state
government to preserve the forests for future generations.
Earlier, when answering a question from Kuala Sepetang assemblyman Chua
Yee Ling, who had asked about the total size of permanent forest
reserves in Perak, Zambry said the state government had taken steps to
increase the permanent forest reserve to 48 per cent of the state's
area.
He added that previously the permanent forest reserves stood at
997,504.11ha or 44.42 per cent of the state's total area of 2,103,500ha.
He also added that Perak had 76 permanent forest reserves. Zambry said
the sustainable forest management system adopted by the state was the
key to the achievement.
He said the state also issued strict conditions which must be adhered to by timber companies.
On the decision by the Selangor state assembly to approve fatter
paychecks for the menteri besar, executive councillors, the speaker, his
deputy and assemblymen, Zambry cynically said that the decision was
supported by the people of Selangor.
He said that if such a decision was made in any Barisan Nasional-led
states government, it would receive heavy criticism from opposition
lawmakers and supporters.
Permanent forest reserves now cover 48 per cent of Perak’s total area.
New Straits Times
Friday 29 November,2013.
No comments:
Post a Comment