More gaharu trees found felled

Hashers discover agarwood chopped into pieces behind Penang resort

GEORGE TOWN: Five more trees, believed to be gaharu (agarwood), have been found felled in the jungle behind the Mar Vista Resort and near Chee Seng Garden in Tanjung Bungah.

Gurdial Singh, 52, a veteran runner with the Penang Hash House Harriers, said he came across the felled trees in jungle area behind the buildings when running with other Hashers at around 5pm on Saturday.

“Some of the trees are 1m in diameter. They were also chopped into pieces.

“I think they were felled about a week ago,” he said yesterday.

Since November, Gurdial has seen felled trees, mostly of the gaharu species, while running in the jungle with other Hashers at various locations on Penang island.

Penang Health, Welfare, Caring Society and Environment Committee chairman Phee Boon Poh, when asked whether the affected area was state-owned or private land, asked Gurdial to check with the state Forestry Deprtment.

Sunday Star had reported on Feb 12 that local syndicates with foreign connections were allegedly felling the highly-valued gaharu trees in the rainforest near the Penang Botanic Gardens and in several other places.

The oil extracted from the agarwood is used for medicine and perfume, and fetches a handsome price in the Middle East.

Gurdial highlighted the matter to the newspaer after he encountered chopped gaharu trees while running in the jungle near the Gardens.

The Penang Forestry Department then formed two teams to track down those responsible for poaching gaharu trees in state forest reserves.