Selangor Forestry Department director Mohd Puat Dahalan today confirmed that menteri besar Mohamed Azmin Ali was not involved in the process of approving any applications for logging activities in the state.

Puat in a statement said that while the state had enforced a moratorium on all logging activities since 2010, exceptions were made in several areas gazetted as permanent forest reserves and only for purposes of projects that constitute public or national interests, including construction of Tenaga Nasional Berhad power lines.

“The State Forestry Department (JPNS) would like to stress that menteri besar (Azmin) and the state excos are not involved in the evaluation process of any applications received for these purposes.

“JPNS would also like to reiterate our commitment towards ensuring an open and transparent forest management system in line with the state government’s policy founded on principles of accountability, transparency and openness,” he said.

According to Puat, other projects that constitute national or public interests include construction of highways and roads, water and gas pipes and water catchment ponds.

While Puat did not refer to any specific allegation against Azmin, Solidariti Anak Muda Malaysia (SAMM) chairperson Badrul Hisham Shaharin had claimed to be in possession of of a " confidential letter " that purportedly proved the state government had awarded logging contracts without going through an open tender process.

Badrul Hisham ( photo ), or better known as Chegubard, had during a press conference in Seremban on Sunday claimed that the documents pertained to land-clearing contracts in Chubadak and Mahkota Cheras, where electricity pylons are to be built by TNB.

Azmin had on Sunday dismissed the allegations as mere “ lies and slander ”.

Puat, meanwhile, stressed that strict conditions have been imposed on all logging projects in the forest reserve areas.

This includes areas that fall under the Hulu Selangor district where TNB lines were supposed to be constructed from Bukit Tarek to Chubadak.

“The original route for this TNB line was supposed to pass through Kampung Sg Terentang, Rawang, for about 1km, but it has now been realigned to pass through about 6km of forest reserve land and about 5km of residential land, due to protests from villagers,” he added.

After 11 years of unrelenting struggle against a high-tension cable project, it was reported earlier this month that a group of Rawang residents can now finally claim victory after TNB has agreed to re-route the power lines.