SABAH Chief Minister Shafie Apdal today confirmed the sacking of chief conservator cum Forestry director Sam Mannan, amid a probe into illegal logging activities in the state. 

“A decision has been made in relation to the termination of Sam and someone new will be appointed to replace him,” said Shafie, after chairing the state cabinet meeting, today. 

Shafie said he would not know if Mannan was under investigation as such a probe would be carried out independently.

It is understood Sam was given three months’ notice to vacate his position, effective August 1. A copy of the termination letter had gone viral two days ago. 

The state government has not made an official statement on the matter.

Mannan was Forestry Department director for nearly two decades, with a two-year break.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission recently moved in on powerful timber companies in Sabah with simultaneous raids on three logging firms in Sandakan and Tawau last week. 

The Forestry headquarters in Sandakan was also raided on August 1 by MACC officers looking for documentation on deals and timber licences issued by the previous Barisan Nasional state government led by former chief minister Musa Aman. 

The raids came on the heels of a seizure of 40,000 allegedly illegally felled logs, and a timber export ban. 

The ban was aimed to disrupt illegal timber activities and to break a decade-long monopoly on the commodity. – August 8, 2018.