KUCHING: The state government is coming down hard on illegal timber fellers by authorising enforcement officers from the forestry department with firearms.
Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem said the state government have made procurement of the weapon and it would be issued to forestry enforcement officers in phases.
In the initial stage, Adenan said, a total of 50 key officers from the forestry department’s enforcement division would be armed with guns to make them less vulnerable to threat when executing their duties.
“The move will help the enforcement officers to be more confident (when performing their duties).
“Sometimes they go to the scene empty handed and the other side might be armed.
“And of course, the officers will adhere to the standard operating procedures (when using their weapons). They will be properly trained,” he told reporters after launching a two-day long seminar on integrity for enforcement officers within the government department at the Borneo Convention Centre here today.
Also present at the seminar, which was attended by 500 participants, was Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief commissioner Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.
Adenan said the forestry department would also be provided with more four-wheel vehicles to step up enforcement at forests in the state.
Adenan, however, did not elaborate the number of vehicles that would be supplied to the forestry department.
“We want our forest officers and forest warden to be on the ground all the time.
“Since assuming the chief minister post, I have received reports on timber smuggling and non payment of royalties which in some occasion was committed in broad daylight.
“I have seen from the air our forest being devastated by illegal loggers. I want to put a stop on all that.”
The state government, he said, also plans to extend the usage of firearms to enforcement officers attached with other state government’s departments and agencies in the future.
Adenan also urged state enforcement officers to be firmed and efficient when performing their duties, which he described as important for the state government to put a stop on timber smuggling and illegal felling activities.
“We want to put a stop to timber smuggling, illegal felling, sale of stolen palm oil, encroachment by fishing trawlers and other unauthorised activities.
“This can be done by getting the enforcement officers to be more strict and efficient.