SARAWAK Deputy Chief Minister Awang Tengah Ali Hassan today ordered an investigation into how suspected illegally logged timber and machinery seized in Bintulu in August were released without any action taken.

The timber is reportedly worth more than RM7 million.

Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg later told reporters a special committee including the security unit in his office and representatives from the Forest Department would conduct the investigation.

Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture, Youth and Sports Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah yesterday questioned why the committee formed by the Forest Department came to the conclusion there was no case for the company to answer and insinuated there was wrong doing in the release.

Karim was quoted by local media as saying he “smelt a rat” and called for the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate “whether there was a case of officials acting beyond their powers”.

Awang Tengah, who chairs the anti-logging committee, said he was not aware of the committee formed by the Forest Department. 

The question over the release came after state director of the Forest Department, Sapuan Ahmad, last week confirmed the release of the timber estimated to be valued at RM7 million

After lodging a police report at Tatau police station, Sarawak Forestry Corporation handed over the logs and machinery to the Forest Department.

Sapuan disclosed “a committee” set up to investigate the seizure concluded “there was no case” against the company involved.

But Karim was not convinced.

Karim, a lawyer, said if there was no wrong doing, it was surprising the logging company did not seek damages against the forest department for illegally confiscating their logs and machinery.