An NGO has urged the government to set up a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate illegal logging in Kelantan, which it said was the primary cause of floods in the state.

 

Concerned Mind and Social Association president Ramesh Rao also claimed he possessed documents on the wealth of several Kelantan PAS leaders.

 

Ramesh wants the RCI to investigate those behind the logging activities in Kelantan and to probe the accounts of certain PAS leaders as well.

 

"I hope the government shows its fangs by forming the RCI for the logging scandal in Kelantan," he said during a press conference in Petaling Jaya today.

In response, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah said Ramesh should complaint to the authorities if he has the information.

"He needs to prove his allegations. If he has the evidence, make a report to the authorities.

"The government will not protect those in the wrong," Mohd Amar, who is also Kelantan PAS deputy commissioner I told Malaysiakini .

Ramesh said an RCI is needed for Kelantan because the unusual magnitude of the flood in the state this time.

This, he said, again raised claims made before that illegal logging was being carried out in the state, especially so since the places he visited during the floods had logs scattered all over.

“It is illogical that the floods were because of the rain, as the mud flows from the hills were quite devastating.

“In Terengganu, (floods) are a usual scenario. Not until houses are floated and logs are seen scattered in the middle of roads.

“But in Kelantan, we see logs on top of houses and in the middle of roads. The flood in Kemaman is a usual flood that occurs every year,” he added.

Panel should have independent members

Ramesh also said the RCI panel should be an independent team that does not have politicians, so as to ensure its integrity.

“If possible, politicians should not be appointed but it should be an independent panel of members with expertise in environmental issues selected to ensure integrity of the investigation. This is for the future of the people,” he said.

The heavy rainfall in Kelantan, especially in the Gua Musang and Kuala Krai areas beginning Dec 22, 2014, resulted in serious flooding throughout the state. The floods were seen to be the worst in the PAS-led state since 1969.

Bernama also reported that more than 1,000 villagers near Kampung Rantau Panjang in Kelantan were stranded after hundreds of logs littered some 100 metres of their exit road, causing the villagers to be trapped in their respective villages.

Yesterday, an Umno leader also urged that a commission of inquiry be set up to look into the cause of the severe floods in Kelantan.

Umno supreme council member Irmohizam Ibrahim was quoted by Umno Online as saying that an independent inquiry should be formed to avoid “finger pointing” by various parties on the causes of the extreme flooding.

Irmohizam said he himself saw the path of destruction left behind by the floods when on a boat, travelling from Kuala Besar to Kota Bahru and then to Pantai Suri and Tumpat.

Among the things he saw were a bridge being destroyed by logs and erosion taking place on river banks.

“The bridge which collapsed was crushed by logs floating on the Sungai Kelantan and the erosion of the river banks is causing problems for fisherman living in over 10 islands around the Tumpat area,” Irmohizam added.