KUCHING: The state government should investigate the logjam in the Baleh River and haul errant parties to court for causing destruction to the environment in upper Baleh, says WWF-Malaysia.

       The conservation organisation also called for the clean-up cost to be borne by those responsible for the timber debris in the river.

       "This can be traced by the forest authority through the intelligence unit and remote monitoring system to determine who is the culprit - timber concessionaires, dam developers or contractors, or communities as mentioned in several media reports," WWF-Malaysia Sarawak conservation programme head Dr Jason Hon said in a statement on Monday (Aug 23).

       He hoped the authorities concerned would do a swift and thorough investigation on the matter and be transparent on the outcome.

       The cost for cleaning up should be passed on to the culprits, he said, adding that it was time for polluters to pay the price for causing environmental damage.

       WWF-Malaysia also welcomed Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri James Masing's suggestion that licences of irresponsible timber concessionaires operating in the upper reaches of the Baleh River should not be renewed.

       "We cannot allow irresponsible companies to taint the state's image and jeopardise our efforts towards sustainable forest management and certification," Hon said.

       He also said the upper Baleh was part of the Heart of Borneo area which promoted sustainable use and management of natural resources on land and river among different stakeholders.

       "But what just happened a few days ago, clearly demonstrates that those concerned failed to use and manage the natural resources sustainably," he said.