The Pahang state assembly was today told that more stringent requirements will be imposed on loggers in the state to ensure that contractors carry out logging activities in the state more responsibly.

Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob said although the logging industry was alleged to be one of the causes of floods in the state, it was not the main causes of the disaster that struck last year.

“Logging activities to some extent affect the environment, but it is not the main cause of the occurrence of severe flooding in the state last year, that affected nearly all regions.

“Severe flooding is not solely due to logging, but there are other causes such as climate change,” he said when repyling to a question from Andansura Rabu (PAS-Beserah) during the state assembly sitting at Wisma Sri Pahang in Kuantan, today.

Andansura sought clarification on whether logging was believed to be the cause of major floods which occurred in the state at the end of last year.

Meanwhile, replying to a question by Sh Mohmed Puzi Sh Mohamed Ali (BN-Peramu) regarding the entry of Cambodian illegals in Pekan, Adnan ( photo ) said the Immigration Department had carried out enforcement and arrested 31 people last year, and early this year.

“The jurisdiction of immigration is under the federal government and we understand the problem of illegal immigrants among the Cambodian people has become complicated, it also applies throughout the country.

“Based on the enforcement in Pekan, 11 arrests were made in 2014, and 20 arrests in 2015,” he said.

Adnan said in addition to the crackdown, the federal government had also tightened security at the borders to prevent the entry of illegal immigrants.

- Bernama