Investigations into a report lodged by Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakob on the accusations regarding his alleged complicity in a controversial timber deal has hit a snag, said the police today.

Kuantan district police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said there are problems in gathering information as the report did not state any specific names.

"The MB's report was too general, he did not name anyone specifically so we are having difficulties in gathering the evidence," he added when contacted.

He said the police wanted to get more information from the menteri besar before the Chinese New Year celebrations but this has been put on hold due to the latter's busy schedule.

However, Khalid added that the police have recorded statements from several others, but refused to reveal their identities.

"I cannot say whether we have obtained any evidence so far since the investigation process is ongoing. The police will continue to do its job and investigate because eventually people will want to know what happened to the investigation," he said.

He urged those with information pertaining to the case to come forward and assist the police in their investigations.

Adnan, who is also Umno Pahang chief, lodged the report on Jan 3 in response to allegations by the opposition that he had abused his power in awarding the timber concession on a 10,000-acre state land near Pekan, Nenasi to his party in 2000.

The police later said the report would be investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation.

'Useful documents'

Meanwhile, a former director of Seruan Gemilang Makmur (SGM) Sdn Bhd - the company given the exclusive right to log the area - claimed that he has documents which could be "useful" to the police.

"These documents may clear the name of Adnan or otherwise," said Syeikh Mohd Zurid Tok Muda Sheikh Hassan at a press conference in Petaling Jaya this morning.

He alleged that the documents supported several previous police reports on the involvement of the menteri besar in the approval of the timber concession.

He said he was disappointed that the police have not given due attention to the case and hoped that the documents in his possession would help expedite the probe.

Syeikh Mohd - who was Umno's Dusun Pinang branch chairperson from 1986-2001 - warned that the logging scandal could be detrimental to Umno Pahang if Adnan does not clear the air before the next general election.

"As an Umno member, something must be done to protect the party's good name because this issue will be played up by the opposition in the coming general election.

"It is especially worrying since the controversial land is located in Nenasi, which falls under the Pekan constituency of deputy prime minister (Najib Abdul Razak) and we know the deputy premier won with only a majority of 241 votes during the last election," he added.

In 2000, Umno Pahang gave SGM the exclusive right to fell, extract and sell the logs in the area. In return, the company paid the party a mere RM50,000 for the deal, said to be far lower than the real value.

The deal turned sour last June after the state forestry department refused to renew the company's logging licence for a remaining 3,000-acre site, prompting SGM to seek legal redress.

Also present at the press conference were DAP national publicity chief Ronnie Liu, DAP Pahang organising secretary Choong Siew Onn and another SGM director Lee Sin.

In a related development, Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) Kuantan director Rahim Mustakaim when contacted urged Syeikh Mohd to contact the agency and provide the relevant information.

Two reports have been lodged with the ACA by opposition leaders last year on the logging scandal and the agency initiated the probe last month.