KUCHING: Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan had addressed several issues and achievements done by the state government during the 79th National Land Council Meeting.
He attended the online Tuesday (Dec 2) meeting as Sarawak representative. It was chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakub.
According to a statement, in the meeting, he (Awang Tengah) had emphasised the importance of reforestation and the need for the federal government to provide incentives in the form of soft loans to companies participating in reforestation projects.
On top of that, he also stated that Sarawak had improved the Forest Ordinance which includes penalties and fines up to 10 times the value of the seized timber, in cases of timber confiscations.
“In terms of enforcement against illegal logging and illegal exploration in the Permanent Forest Reserve, the state government has a specific strategy to address it and use the latest technological facilities in monitoring and combating such illegal activities,” he informed during the meeting.
Also present at the event were Sarawak Forest Department director Datuk Hamden Mohammad and Sarawak Land and Survey Department deputy director (Management) Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood.
