Is Perak’s forest land being sold to political cronies, asks a politician?



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Hamidah Osman stated that the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve was among the sites that have been earmarked for logging and forestry agriculture. (Image from Twitter)

IPOH: A politician said today that many parts of Perak’s forests are being used for logging and forestry agriculture, which threatens key water catchment areas.

The Vice President of Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (Putra), Hamidah Osman, also alleged that, according to a letter written by a “Yeop Kidai, parcels of land were awarded to companies with political ties to PPBM and to those who had political power in the state government. .

In a Facebook Live video, he claimed that the Kledang Saiong Forest Reserve was one of the affected areas, with 400ha blocks of land given to newly formed companies whose shareholders were politically linked to forestry agriculture.

He also claimed that some of these companies obtained large tracts of land within eight months of incorporation.

Hamidah, who was a member of the Perak assembly for three terms from 2004 to 2013 and was once a vice president of PPBM, said this information is derived from an open letter written by someone named “Yeop Kidai.” The six-page letter has been widely shared on social media.

“Carrying out logging, especially in the Kledang Saiong area, which is a major water catchment area, for the sake of cultivated forests is irresponsible.

“Some of these lands are handed over under the ‘ladang rakyat’ scheme. This is for small farmers, not companies.

Putra members outside the Perak MACC office in Ipoh today.

Now, is Perak shared between cronies? Is Perak on sale? Is Perak at a cheap or wholesale sale, with thousands of acres to give away to his cronies?

“The owners of these companies are politically linked. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has investigated open letters before. So, I have reported this to the MACC as it involves mentoring kissing and its associates, ”he said.

In a statement, Perak MB Ahmad Faizal Azumu said that he was aware of a MACC report filed by Hamidah against him for the letter with a poisonous pen spread on social media and that he was willing to be investigated for any crime.

“I am personally willing to fully cooperate with MACC to carry out an investigation into this report. This is in line with the principle of the rule of law upheld by the Perak state government, ”he said.

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