Beleaguered Perak DAP chief Ngeh Koo Ham today accused Malay daily Berita Harian of publishing a false news report that his recently acquired company Upayapadu Plantation Sdn Bhd was involved timber logging.

"Upayapadu Plantation is not involved in any timber logging... Upayapadu Plantation is involved only in reforestation to ensure future sufficient sustainable supply of timber," he said.

Ngeh stressed in his statement today that the project was encouraged as well as supported by both the federal and Kelantan state governments.

NONE Labelling the Berita Harian front page report carried yesterday a "total lie", he pointed out that the photographs in the report showing piles of timber logs waiting to be transported out were not from the land where Upayapadu Plantation is carrying out reforestation.

"The front page picture is also probably taken from another place."

He claimed that the company has not taken out a single log from the land since he and some investors took over the company in April this year.

"Until today neither the management of Upayapadu Plantation nor I have received any complaint from any party concerning any pollution caused by the work carried out by them.

"The land had been cleared off timber many years ago by other parties when the federal government and the state government agreed to the reforestation programs using latex timber clone trees some 15 years ago," Ngeh said.

Future needs considered

He added that he and the new investors want to help with reforestation that can produce sufficient sustainable timber for the future so virgin jungle will not be destroyed.

NONE The Setiawan assemblyperson and Beruas MP further claimed that Upayapadu Plantation's project is of benefit to the nation.

He said the both the federal government and the Kelantan governments have adopted different approaches to ensure the  project's success by allowing Upayapadu Plantation to plant latex timber clone (LTC) trees on the land to generate income for the investors while waiting for the young trees to mature so that they can be harvested as timber.

In the past, Ngeh said, many investors had ended up bankrupt as they had to wait 20 to 40 years before seeing their first harvest.

"The federal and state governments encourage reforestation programs for future timber supply because our furniture export is about RM8 billion a year. The federal government has also allocated soft loans for such reforestation programs."

Apart from the state government, the project was supported by the then Plantation Industries and Commodities Industries Minister Peter Chin Fah Kui and the then Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Awang Adek Hussin.

Where hope rises eternal

"Two past attempts to carry out the reforestation on the said land had failed. The new investors and I hope to succeed.

"Our investment and endeavour are beneficial to the country and we look forward to the support of everyone," he said.

Ngeh also reiterated that there is no Orang Asli settlement on the land.

"I am a strong advocate of Orang Asli welfare. I have encouraged the Kelantan state government to gazette all Orang Asli settlements so that no development will affect their livelihood."

Before concluding his statement, Ngeh struck back at Perak Menteri Besar Zambry Abdul Kadir, urging  him to explain the alleged approval of state lands worth billions of ringgit in favour of BN cronies.

"I have been transparent and have explained all questions raised with regard to Upayapadu Plantation.

"I believe BN raised it to divert the people's attention from the billions of ringgit land scandals that I have raised at the state assembly.

"Now that I have explained I challenge Zambry to explain the accusations raised against him and his government."

Zambry has denied the allegation and decided to take Ngeh to court.

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