Terengganu Menteri Besar Idris Jusoh today said his government will issue a White Paper on the status of forest reserve and logging activities in the state during the rule of opposition party PAS.

He said the White Paper would provide answers to questions raised by many quarters regarding logging activities under PAS, which ruled the state from 1999.

Barisan Nasional (BN) recaptured the state by winning 25 of the 32 state seats in the March 21 general election. In 1999, PAS took the state by winning 28 seats.

Meanwhile, Idris said the White Paper would also provide an insight into polices adopted by PAS pertaining to logging activities.

He said state secretary Muhatar Abdullah would work together with state legal officer Ahmad Kamal Md Shahid in preparing the paper.

"They will set up a special committee for the purpose," he was quoted as saying in a Bernama report.

Policy changes

Idris, who is also Terengganu Umno chief, said he anticipated the White Paper to be ready in two months' time.

"The rakyat must know what happened and we will ensure that the White Paper will be prepared by an independent body," he added.

The menteri besar said with the forest management now placed under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry from the Primary Industries Ministry previously, there was a need to change logging policies.

"The changes made by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi reflect a change in government policies on forestry," he added.

Last August, a news report alleged that illegal logging was taking place at a permanent forest reserve in Kampung Kemat, near the state's Sekayu recreational forest in Terengganu under PAS's rule.

However, then PAS state executive councillor Mustafa Ali dismissed the claim, saying that it was an attempt to put the state forestry department in a negative light.

"That report is unfounded. I have said before that whatever logging is occurring (in Terengganu) is in accordance with the law," he said.