KUCHING: A plantation company accused of deforesting some 4,000 hectares of land near the Mulu National Park has done nothing wrong, said an assistant minister.
Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Assistant Minister Datuk Len Talif Salleh said, “The company did not encroach on the national park (territory) and has been going about their business all these years according to the law.
“No matter how much you explain, they will not accept it. They are in that business. The more you spin, the better. The area in question is actually outside the Mulu National Park,” he told reporters when asked to comment on claims made by the Bruno Manser Fund, an environmental non-governmental organisation (NGO).
The Mulu National Park is a Unesco World Heritage site.
“I am the Assistant Minister of Environment, and I would not allow that (encroachment on a Unesco World Heritage site). This is outside the park and has been there for a long time. Why all of a sudden (this issue) being spun?” Len said here yesterday.
On Thursday, Primary Industries Minister, Teresa Kok expressed concern over the issue in a statement.
Noting that the development was being disputed by the indigenous people, Kok said she had contacted Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas to share her concern.
“As land is a state matter, I am counting upon the state government to take the appropriate measures to resolve the matter in the interest of the state, the indigenous people and our national sustainability agenda,” she said.
