KUALA LUMPUR: Illegal loggers may face a minimum of five to 20 years in jail and fines of up to RM1mil following moves to better protect the nation's forest reserves.

       This comes after the government tabled proposed amendments to the National Forestry Act 1984 to increase penalties for a slew of offences involving forest reserves.

       Among the key amendments involve Section 86 for counterfeiting, marking, defacing trees or altering forest boundaries for illegal logging purposes.

       Those convicted of such offences face a jail term of not less than five years to a maximum 20 years including a RM1mil fine.

       The current laws impose a minimum one year to maximum 20-year jail term and fine not exceeding RM500,000 on convicted offenders.

       Also increased are penalties against those found in possession, custody or control of any forest produce whose removal was done without payment of royalty, premium or other charges.

       Punishment under Section 84 for convicted offenders will be increased to a fine of not more than RM200,000 and 10 years jail compared to the current penalties of RM50,000 and five-year jail.

       Even the penalties for those guilty of starting fires in forest reserves will be increased.

       Those convicted of littering forest reserves under proposed amendments to Section 83 may face penalties of a fine up to RM20,000 including three years jail.

       Offenders under Section 82, who start fires or leave fires burning within a permanent reserved forest in such a manner as to endanger the area, may face a maximum RM100,000 fine and seven years jail.

       The current punishment for the two offences range between maximum fines of RM10,000 and RM50,000 including jail terms of between three to five years.

       Penalties for general offences such as trespassing, grazing livestock, damaging trees including hunting or setting traps in forest reserves without authorisation will also be increased.

       Those convicted for such offences are liable to fines ranging between RM20,000 and RM50,000 including jail terms between three and seven years.

       The amendments were proposed by Energy and Natural Resources Deputy Minister Datuk Ali Biju who tabled the National Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2022 in Dewan Rakyat for its first reading on Thursday (March 3).

       He informed the House that the Bill will be read for the second time and passed during the meeting.

       The Dewan Rakyat meeting began on Feb 28 and will end on March 24.