IPOH: The Perak Forestry Department will investigate viral photos and claims that logging is being carried out at the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve in Kuala Kangsar.

       Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad (pic) said, however, that his office had yet to receive a report on the matter, and he did not rule out the possibility that these were old photos.

       “The department will investigate," he said, commenting on several images of felled trees purportedly in Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve.

       Speaking to reporters after a programme here on Monday (Jan 18) evening, he said action would be taken if illegal logging is indeed being carried out in the reserve.

       “The perpetrators can be charged and heavily penalised. Logging needs a licence based on approval from the forest revenue committee,” he said.

       On the order to farmers to vacate land in Kanthan and Tanah Hitam, Chemor here by the State Agriculture Development Corporation (SADC), Saarani said his office was waiting for a court order.

       "Negotiations have been held but nothing has been solved," he said.

       He added that the state government needed to make preparations for infrastructure in the area, including the development of Silver Valley Technology Perak (SVTP), following several requests from foreign investors.

       He said the SVTP industrial park was one of several proposed for such investors and its development would be expedited to meet demand.

       SVTP in Chemor is expected to drive the high-tech manufacturing sector and act as a catalyst for Industry 4.0.

       The issue of eviction of farmers in Kanthan and Tanah Hitam had been raised by several assemblymen at the Perak state assembly sitting in December. – Bernama