KEPALA BATAS, May 1 — The General Operations Force (GOF) of the Northern Brigade raided an illegal sawmill in the Seberang Perai Utara (SPU), here before arresting two men and seizing various logs and equipment including machines, worth RM1.863 million, on Wednesday.
Northern Brigade Commander SAC Balveer Singh Mahindar Singh said Op Sawmill was carried out at 7 am by police Internal Security and Public Order Department (JKDNKA) in collaboration with the Penang Forestry Department.
“In the operation, the police managed to arrest two local men aged 38 and 55 who are believed to be workers at the factory and a joint inspection with the state Forestry Department found that the premises were being used as a location for collecting and processing logs without approval.
“The results of the inspection in the factory found that the operator had purchased and cut logs without any permit or approval from the Penang Forestry Department,” he said in a statement last night.
He said that apart from that, the inspection also found that the licenses of the sawmill, plywood, veneer and blockboard had expired since Dec 31, thus raising issues of non-compliance with forestry regulations and timber industry licensing.
Balveer Singh said that in the operation, his party seized various types of log cutting and processing machines, various types of logs and a lorry believed to be used to transport logs, all worth RM1.863 million.
He said the case had been handed over to the Penang Forestry Department for investigation under Section 68(1) of the National Forestry Act 1984 for the offence of having in his possession, custody or control any forest produce without a permit.
He also requested the cooperation of the public who have information regarding the activities of storing and processing logs without a license to channel it to the PGA Northern Brigade to enable immediate action to be taken to ensure the sustainability of the forest and the country’s produce is preserved.
