Logging still rampant in Gua Musang

KUALA LUMPUR, March 4 (Bernama) -- While the heavy rainfall in Kelantan between Dec 22 and 24, 2014 was enough to inundate the state, other factors such as logging is said to have aggravated the situation further.

The expanse of land that have been cleared is evident when viewed from land, water or above.

The writers upon arriving in Gua Musang and Kuala Krai witnessed timber lorries on the public road at all hours, putting the lives of motorists in danger.

Despite claims by various parties that logging activities have ceased to exist in Kelantan, how come the lorries still operate in these two districts?

During the 10 days stay there, the writers witnessed lorries laden with timber making their way through the town area.

Timber lorries out and about town

Even local resident Shamsuddin Yaacob, 57, admitted to this. The clerk who works at a school in Gua Musang would meet-up with friends after work at the coffee shop next to the main road heading to Kuala Krai and that is when he would see the timber lorries.

"Many lorries pass by here. I don't know where they are headed but I worry something bad will happen and that the roads will be damaged by their heavy load," he said.

Rubber tapper Ahmad Tarmizi, 31, said the timber lorries were driven at high speeds and its drivers were rude and used profanities when anyone confronted them.

"We are also suspicious of some of the lorries as they are overloaded and the long logs are not marked with red cloth at the potruding end," he said.

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Logging still rampant in Gua Musang