Perak State Assembly Passes Forestry Law Amendments to Strengthen Enforcement and Conservation Efforts
IPOH: The Perak State Legislative Assembly has unanimously approved the National Forestry Act (Amendment) 2022 (Adoption) 2026, marking a significant step towards strengthening legal provisions governing forest management and enforcement.
The bill was tabled by Menteri Besar Saarani Mohamad before Speaker Mohammad Zahir Abdul Khalid and subsequently passed following debates involving six state assembly members.
Saarani said the amendments introduce key improvements to existing provisions under the National Forestry Act 1984 (Act 313), in line with current needs to address issues such as illegal logging, forest encroachment, and the unauthorised extraction of forest resources.
He emphasised that the primary objective of the amendments is to enhance the effectiveness of enforcement mechanisms, ensuring that legal action against forest-related offences can be carried out more decisively.
“The amendments place strong emphasis on enforcement by increasing penalties and fines for forest offences, while also strengthening the implementation of legal actions, including compounding offences and prosecution in court,” he said during the tabling of the bill.
In addition to enforcement, the amendments are aimed at improving conservation and preservation efforts to ensure the long-term sustainability of forest resources in the state.
A key feature of the amendments is the expansion of authority granted to federal forestry officers, allowing them to assist in investigations and enforcement operations, subject to approval from state authorities. This is expected to improve coordination between agencies and enhance overall enforcement capacity.
The amendments also introduce a new classification under Permanent Reserved Forests (PRF), namely state park forests, which will contribute to more structured and effective forest management.
Furthermore, improvements have been made to the management of licences and permits, including stricter conditions, clearer validity periods, and enhanced mechanisms for deposit forfeiture to ensure compliance.
Financial provisions have also been strengthened, particularly through broader utilisation of the Forest Development Fund to support conservation initiatives and sustainable forest management programmes.
Saarani added that several new offences have been introduced under the amendments, including obstructing enforcement operations, providing false information, and abetting illegal activities such as unauthorised roadblocks.
“These amendments are crucial to ensure that all violations of forestry laws are addressed firmly, effectively, and in line with current challenges,” he said.
-wilayah.com.my
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