Pahang govt wants opposition reps to prove Bentong logging claim

Pahang Menteri Besar Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail has urged two opposition assemblypersons to prove their claims of logging in the Bentong area in Pahang.

"That's what they claim... Don't listen to them. We know what type of people they are, I can't rely on them," Wan Rosdy told reporters in Felda Kemasul, near Bentong today.

Pahang government secretary Sallehuddin Ishak, who was accompanying Wan Rosdy, said if the two assemblypersons can prove their claims, he will organise for all of them to visit the site.

"Ask them to prove it... Ask them to show us the location. If there are logging activities, we will visit the place together," said Sallehuddin.

The state assemblypersons are Lee Chin Chen (Bilut) and Chow Yu Hui (Tras), who claimed that residents of Taman Shahbandar Height suspect illegal logging in the area despite the moratorium on forest clearing activities during the monsoon season issued by the Pahang Forestry Department.

Chow had accompanied the residents to lodge a police report over the matter on Jan 20.

Sharing aerial images of the site, Chow said he had also heard the sound of trees being felled when he paid a visit to the area recently.

Some parts of Bentong were flooded late last month, while flooding was more severe in nearby Temerloh and Mentakab.