Ministry issues stop-work order

KUALA LUMPUR: All development and logging activities in Hutan Merapoh in Lipis has been ordered to come to a halt.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said yesterday his ministry would take action against those who refused to follow orders.

“We have studied it briefly (and found that) many quarters are involved... The development and logging are not in accordance with the Environment Quality Act 1974.

“I have instructed the directorgeneral of the Department of Environment to issue stop-work orders for all activities in the forest,” he said after a meeting of the National Land Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, at the Parliament building.

He said the Environment Impact Assessment study for development and logging in the forest was not implemented before exploration was made.

“I want a study on this forest. I will discuss this with the state government.

“Since the development is being done now, everyone must adhere to this instruction.”

Logging in Merapoh became a hot issue after Save Merapoh Caves founder Mohd Laili Basir claimed that it had destroyed the environment and polluted a river, which was a source of water supply for 10,000 residents in eight villages.