PUTRAJAYA must stop all logging activities until proper studies are done to ensure it is safe to the environment, said Anwar Ibrahim.

“There should be a moratorium to stop all the logging including those that have already been approved,” said the opposition leader in Parliament today.

Anwar also urged the government to stop awarding logging licences to everyone whether they have political influence or not.

“Parliament is ready to support such an initiative to ensure it doesn’t continue.”

The Port Dickson MP said logging activities near Sg Gapur, Sg Telemong and southern Karak had already reached alarming levels and have affected the areas near Karak and Bentong.

Bentong, Mentakab and Temerloh were among the worst-hit areas in Pahang during the recent floods where whole houses were washed away by floods carrying timber logs.

“The government must also give all information about the logging licences that have been granted by the state governments for the past five years, including the prime minister’s state, Pahang,” said Anwar.

Anwar was debating last month’s flood disaster that claimed 55 lives and caused millions of ringgit in damage in the country.

He said the floods, especially in Pahang, was not due to heavy rainfall alone but was also caused by logging.

According to Fuziah Salleh (Kuantan-PH), 19 logging licences were issued in Pahang last year.

“But when I asked the state environment department to provide a copy of the environment impact assessment report, they refused to issue it.

“Shouldn’t the Pahang environment department reveal who has obtained these licences so that the flood victims can claim their losses from them?” said Fuziah.

Parliament is holding a special sitting today to discuss the government’s response and actions during the worst floods to have affected Malaysia last month, culminating in 55 deaths and damage totalling hundreds of millions of ringgit. – January 20, 2022.