MP LODGES REPORT OVER PERAK PROJECT
Politician questions approval of development project at 2 forest reserves
KAMPAR member of parliament Thomas Su Keong Siong yesterday lodged a report with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on alleged irregularites in the issuance of a permit for a development project on two forest reserves in the state.
Su questioned the approval since the company was only established five months ago, but had received the green light to develop a project at the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve and Bukit Kinta Forest Reserve in Kinta Manjung district.
“The report was lodged today (yesterday) as we found that there are elements that need to be investigated since it involves a land permit given to a company that was set up on July 26.
“Why was the permit given to this company and not others?” he asked at a press conference before lodging the report together with representatives of the Association for the Protection of Natural Heritage of Malaysia (PEKA) at the Perak MACC office in Meru here yesterday.
A letter, which had gone viral, claimed that the state government, at a Perak Forest Resources Committee meeting held in November, had approved the permit for the 400ha forest plantation development project.
It was reported on Friday that Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu had said the state government would check on the permit issued.
Faizal said he was unaware of the actual situation regarding the status of the permit dated Dec 14 for the project located at the two forest reserves.
“I do not know the details. So I can’t comment on the matter yet. I will have to check with the Land and Mines Office and the Forestry Department to get the facts,” Faizal said.