KUCHING: Sarawak Forest Department has denied claims by the local community of an alleged encroachment into Mulu National Park in Miri by oil palm planters.
It said based on data analysis and satellite images, the area currently being developed by the company concerned was not within the national park area.
“In fact, the site in question is located quite a distance from the national park boundary,” the department said in a press statement issued yesterday.
Besides, the area is a titled land and being developed by a certified plantation company, it added.
On a separate issue, the department warned individuals and companies against encroaching into areas that had been gazetted as Totally Protected Areas (PTAs) such as national parks, forest reserves and wildlife sanctuaries.
Anyone found to have committed the offence would be penalised under Section 26 of the National Park and Nature Reserve Ordinance, 1998.
The department will collaborate with Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to closely monitor all the gazetted TPAs to ensure they are well preserved and not being encroached upon, it added.
