Table of Contents

STAGE 1 : DEFINING THE PROBLE

1

Case study.................................................................................................3
STAGE 1: DEFINING THE PROBLEM

1.1 Whos Problem that We Intend to Solve............................................................7

1.2 State..................................................................................................7
Expectation.............................................................................................7
Reality...................................................................................................7
Gap......................................................................................................7
Problem Statement.....................................................................................7
Problem Solving Goals:................................................................................7
STAGE 2: PROBLEM ANALYSIS

2.1

5W 1H Method (Tang Kai Wen)..................................................................8

2.2

Kepner-Tregoe Analysis (Nur Salina Yusoff)...................................................11

2.3

IF I WERE approach (Annisa Shahirah).....................................................17

2.4

6 Thinking Hats (Wan Nurul Ain)..............................................................18

STAGE 3: IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SOLUTION

21

Solution 1 (Tang Kai Wen)..............................................................................21

Solution 2 Saleena Yusoff...............................................................................23
Solution 3 (Annisa Shahirah)...........................................................................24
Solution 4 (Wan Nurul Ain).............................................................................26
Stage 4: DECIDE THE BEST SOLUTION 27
Solution 1 (Tang Kai Wen)..............................................................................27
(A) Advantages........................................................................................27
(B) Disadvantages.....................................................................................28
Solution 2 Saleena Yusoff...............................................................................29
Solution 3 (Annisa Shahirah)...........................................................................30
Solution 4 (Wan Nurul Ain).............................................................................30
THE BEST SOLUTION................................................................................32
APPENDICES 33

Case study
Besut catchment areas under threat

BESUT: It looks like the authorities are fighting a losing battle against illegal loggers, who are not
only causing widespread damage to the environment, but also threatening rice output by padi farms
here.
Illegal logging has been detected at eco-sensitive water catchment areas in the Pelagat and Gunung
Tebu forest reserve, which are essential to fill the Paya Peda Dam in Hulu Besut.
Water from the dam is used to irrigate 10,000ha of padi fields. The dam was recently completed at a
cost of RM349 million and can store 168 million cubic metres of water. However, illegal logging
could cause the dam to be filled with sediment, thus making it shallower.
The problem is going to start when the dry spell arrives. The dam might dry up, and when it rains,
it might not be able to contain excess water because it has become shallow, said Terengganu
Forestry Department director Azmi Nordin, adding that he feared the consequences of illegal
logging in catchment areas.
He said primary forests and forest reserves in catchment areas acted like sponges, absorbing 20
percent of rain, which would be released slowly into streams and rivers to prevent floods and
landslides.
Imagine what would happen if excess water from the Paya Peda Dam overflowed and rushed
downstream to Jerteh town, which is just 17kn away. Floods would be inevitable.
This is why we have boosted enforcement to prevent such a thing from happening. But, illegal
loggers dont care about the environment or the consequences of their actions on the livelihood of
others, he said, adding that awareness programmes would be stepped up, including distributing
flyers to inform people of the consequences of illegal logging and how they could stop such
activities.
Azmi said numerous raids had been conducted, but enforcement personnel were fighting an uphill
battle.
The area encroached by these people is too widespread, and there is a lot of them. These illegal
loggers are organised, but we have detected their operations using drones equipped with heatseeking sensors. They have provided enforcement units with images of machines working at night,
as well as heat trails leading to illegal sawmills.

He said the departments enforcement unit, with the help of the General Operations Force, had
conducted six major operations this year, scoring a major success earlier this week, following a tipoff from villagers in Setiu and here.
We sealed shut an illegal sawmill in Kampung Hulu Seladang, Setiu, at 2am on Monday. Among
the items seized were a forklift, an excavator and two band saws. We also seized sawn timber that
was ready to be shipped out of the factory, and we are assessing its value.
The 47-year-old sawmill owner was arrested when he dropped by the factory to check on the
presence of our men there. He failed to explain why the logs and sawn timber were there. He has
been handed to district police, and will be kept under temporary custody,
He said the team raided another illegal sawmill in Kampung Bukit Payong, Hulu Besut, two hours
later, and seized a gripper, three band saws and a lorry laden with logs.
The team arrested eight people --- four local and four Indonesians, including a pregnant woman
believed to be the wife of one of the Indonesians.
We believe the logs were illegally extracted from the Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest reserves,
which are in the Paya Peda Dam catchment area, said Azmi.
He said a 4.30pm follow-up at the Keruak 10 compartment near the Paya Peda Dam saw that more
than 20ha of the forest reserve had been cleared of valuable trees, including balau and meranti.
Those arrested will be charged under Section 84 of the National Forestry Act 1984 with the illegal
possession of forest products, and face a fine of not more than RM50, 000 or a maximum of 20
years jail.

Forest Reserve functions as stabilizers of Ecosystem Saleena Yusoff

What are forest reserves?
4

Forest reserves are portions of state lands where commercial harvesting of wood products is
not included in order to capture elements of biodiversity or in general term (the variety of life in the
world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem) that can be missing from sustainably harvested sites.
Small (patch) reserves preserve sensitive, resources such as steep slopes, fragile soils, and habitat
for certain rare species that benefit from undamaged forest canopies. Large (matrix) reserves
represent the diversity for kind of non-fragmented forest landscapes remaining in Malaysia today.
Matrix reserves will ultimately support a wider diversity of tree sizes and ages rather than typically
occurs on sustainably harvested sites. It also support structures and processes that related with
extensive accumulations of large woody debris that usually do not have from harvested sites.
Why are reserves important?

One of the reason reserves are important because reserve allow people to understand the
forest system function when generally all logs or timbers are removes in order for human use in
place. As much as it is important to have the great majority of forest land open to the sustainable
harvest of wood products in order to support human society, it is also equally important to maintain
portions of our forested landscapes in a condition where all components of the ecosystem remain in
place. To be honest, forest reserves allow us to value more human impacts on harvested sites, and
can provide insights into how extractive management of harvested forest lands can be improved.
Generally speaking, it can also be a place for experimental to related agencies in order to improve
harvested forest lands.
Reserves will likely support substantially higher densities of certain species of moss and
lichens that typically occur only on older trees (Selva 1996). Some beetle species which occupy the
forest-floor appear to be more abundant in old-growth than in managed forests (Flatebo et al. 1999).
Certain forest songbirds (e.g., Blackburnian warbler, Magnolia warbler, and Solitary vireo) occur at
substantially higher densities in forest reserves than in harvested forestlands (Haney and Schaadt
1996). Forest reserves provide potential refugia for unique species assemblages, and may provide
habitat for invertebrate wildlife and soil micro-organisms that have not been well studied to date.
Reserves will provide unique recreational, aesthetic, and educational opportunities to other people
(Haney and Schaadt 1996).
Forest reserves provide reference sites for objective assessment of the
sustainability of forest management practices (Norton 1999), and are essential for
practicing adaptive resource management (Walters and Holling 1990). Reserves create
opportunities for connectivity within the landscape, conservation of species and
processes, buffering against future uncertainty, and other hard to measure but
5

valuable functions. While no forestland is free of human impact from ubiquitous

influences such as air pollution and invasive, exotic organisms introduced by people,
forest reserves can still help ensure that representative examples of biodiversity
indigenous to an area are more likely to be conserved since wood fiber is not
extracted and invasive plant species are less likely to be introduced in reserves
(Hunter 1996).

Functions of trees as stabilizers

In treepeople.org website we can see a lot functions of trees in our daily
life not only human being but animals and climate change. One of the tree function is
as a soil stabilizer and prevent water and soil erosion. Woody vegetation protects the
soil better and lasts longer than annual plants. Its roots deepen and improve the soil,
and the shade it provides facilitates ecosystem metabolism. These functions are
essential for ensuring the soil stability and the continuity of agricultural activities.
They are a source of wood products, including fuelwood, poles, and lumber. Fuelwood
is might be the only domestic fuel, not only in the rural areas but in some urbanized
areas as well. Wood is also used as a construction material.

A number of multi-purpose trees and shrubs are ideal for protecting and improving the soil,
while providing a high fodder yield in the dry months without impairing agricultural production in
the rainy season. Besides, trees also also are a source of foodstuff for the population. Many fruits,
leaves, young shoots, and roots provide valuable food in the dry season and, therefore, comprise an
important reserve for emergencies.

PART B : RUBRIC SCORE FOR PROBLEM SOLVING

STAGE 1: DEFINING THE PROBLEM

For Assignment 2, our group selected an article titled "Besut catchment areas under threat". The
case study can be refer at the end of the page, Koios and this is the URL of the article
http://www.nst.com.my/node/97227 .

1.1 Whos Problem that We Intend to Solve

We intend to help Forestry Department bringing awareness to people the consequences of illegal
loggings in social, economic and environmental aspects in order to curb the illegal logging
problem.
6

1.2 State
(Tang Kai Wen, Saleena Yusoff, Annisa Shahirah, Wan Nurul Ain)
Expectation: Primary forests and forest reserves in Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest were
established as eco-sensitive water catchment areas to absorb 20 per cent of rain, which would be
released slowly into streams and rivers to prevent floods and landslides and to fill the recently
completed Paya Peda Dam which will be irrigated 10,000ha of padi fields in Hulu Besut.
Reality: Illegal logging and sawmill factories were detected at those areas that could cause various
damages to the environment and sources of income of the paddy planters.
Gap: Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forests have deteriorated in its function to serve as eco-sensitive
water catchment areas for Hulu Besut.
Problem Statement: It is expected the recently completed Paya Peda Dam will be use as irrigation
to 10,000ha of padi fields in Hulu Besut. However, the primary forests and forest reserves in
Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest function that are to serve as eco-sensitive water catchment areas to
paddy planters have deteriorated when illegal logging and sawmill factories were detected at those
areas.
Problem Solving Goals:
To curb the illegal logging problem by informing the consequences of illegal logging to the locals
and how they could restrain such activities in the forest in order to prevent the dam become shallow
during monsoon and dry seasons that could cause natural disasters.

STAGE 2: PROBLEM ANALYSIS

2.1

5W 1H Method (Tang Kai Wen)

2.1.1

What is Paya Peda Dam?

Paya Peda Dam begins its construction in the year of 2011 and took almost 2 years to complete. The
total cost of the construction was a massive at a cost of RM349 million. Initially, the construction of
Paya Peda Dam was aim for irrigation, reducing flood damage in the Besut valley and act as a
7

supplies for town water supply needs within catchment of Sg.Besut with a capacity up to 168
million cubic meter of water. It was expected that it will have improvements and modernization of
the infrastructure and improve water control and management. Around the end of the year,
Malaysias northern state especially Terengganu and Kelantan are usually hits by monsoons. Thus,
as Sg.Besut regularly overflows, Paya Peda Dam act as a frontier as flood mitigation plan and
mitigate against flood occurrence in the Besut valley. The project is also aim to supplying water for
8,000 farmers in Besut and Setiu where rice field is the main agriculture there.

Layout Plan & Dam Location

2.1.2

What happened?

Activity of illegal logging had been detected around the area of the dam especially at the ecosensitive water catchment areas in Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest reserve. The harvesting
companies and loggers had been harvesting wood without discrimination for own personal gain.
8

What happens is that, the original geographical state around the catchment area changes, where
erosion of soil occurs and damages of creeks happens and affecting the streams for supplying clean
water. Logically, as erosion occurs, the water will be polluted with suspended solids and
deforestation waste. It will also bring the slit from the erosion all the way to the bottom of the dam
and resulting deposition of mud. This will make the dam shallower and causing the dam capacity to
decrease. As a result, it threatens the padi farmers for supplies of water for their crops during dry
spell. Also, as monsoons hits, it will also threatens the local lives staying near the dam as the dam
might overflowed with rainwater and excess water will rushed downstream toward the town of
Jerteh. At that time, flood would be inevitable
2.1.3

What have been done at the moment to solve this issue?

The authority had tried numerous way to tackle the activities of illegal logging in the Besut
catchment area. According to Azmi Nordin, Director of Terengganu Forestry Department, he said
they have boosted enforcement to prevent such illegal logging activities from happening. Few
examples of approach that has been taken are by having awareness program. This can be done by
distributing flyer to nearby local people which was aim to inform and increase the awareness of the
consequences of illegal logging and how they could stop such activities by hoping they could report
any suspicious incident to the authority. Also, advance technology has also taken into action by
using drones that is advance with heat-seeking sensors that has the ability to livestream and track
any suspicious activities from above the sky with temperature reading of object on the ground.
Meanwhile, Terengganu Forestry Department enforcement unit has also cooperate with General
Operation force to deter the activities of illegal logging. Azmi said that numerous raid had been
conducted previously and it is known that 6 major operation are conducted this year. And it is
known that they had successfully shut down few illegal sawmill include the Kampung Hulu
Seladang and Kampung Bukit Payong where they had seized the equipment for operating and also
timber product. Few individual also detained for further investigation which including the owner
and worker where it include a pregnant wife.
2.1.4

Why the enforcement unit are still unable to boosted enforcement fully?

It is known that the Besut Irrigation scheme covers an irrigable area about 10,075 hectares. Besides
that, the surrounding of Paya Peda Dam is extremely widespread and it is covered by few major
forest which is the Gunung Besout forest reserve, Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest reserve. With
this amount of total surface, it is extremely difficult for the authority to have fully grounded and put
9

under surveillances. Labor, safety and budgets for surveillances activities would be a main concern.
Also, local people of that area are not well aware about the activity of illegal logging and its
consequences and they are not well corporate with authority in informing about the activities
happens. It is also known that the syndicate that encroached the area is too widespread and well
organized because illegal loggers have firm grip on loader operators.
2.1.5

Who supposed to be blame?

The first in line to be blame is the illegal loggers. They are the one that causes all this mess and the
result and compilation they have made are destroying and permanent. They are not being rational
and they have did it just for the sake of their own interest while risking others life and assets. The
second in line is the residents and people around the area. Being a victim of suspected illegal
logging, they have not taken much action to report to the authority instead expecting the authority
to have enforce the surveillance around the area and handle the culprit.
2.1.6

Why the current solutions have failed to solve the issue?

It is due to several reason that lead the problem remain unsolved. One of the main reason is because
the syndicates are well organized where there's organization chart are too wide spread leading the
authority unable to track down its leader who command the operation, Also, some illegal logging
syndicate are having a firm grip on the loader operators who are from Besut where some are as far
from the southern district of Kelantan. With this, the authority unable to prove the main syndicate
are guilty of transacting illegal timber. This causes the Forestry Department difficult to present
evidence in court to prosecute them. On the other hand, the syndicates are also unwilling to
cooperate fully with the authority where it lead to a need to report the problem to the National
Security Council for help, causing it to be more complicated and time consuming due to
inexperience of problem.
2.1.7

How would I act if I were the local in that area?

If being a local around the area of Paya Peda Dam, I would have being more sensitive toward the
changes around me. I would have report to the authority if I witness any logging activity that seems
illegal like suspecting in and out of truck and people. I would have also speed up the awareness
programmers that were launched by government agencies by volunteering educating and inform
people of the consequences of illegal logging and pulling more people into the circle by

10

establishing a strong organization so that able to overcome and communicate well about the events
and awareness of illegal logging.

2.2

Kepner-Tregoe Analysis (Nur Salina Yusoff)

2.2.1

How complex is the problem?

First, we should know that activities constituting illegal logging include the harvest,

transportation, purchase or sale of timber in violation of national laws. The problem has many
complex causes rooted deeply in the social, economic, cultural and political structures of our
societies. While illegal logging and trade of illegal wood products have received international
attention, many other illegal operations may occur in the forest sector. Therere reasons why law
were implemented in cutting forest trees down. Theres a limit and certain places being given to cut
down the trees in order to preserve forest reserves. However, the existence of arrogant and
greediness among illegal logging syndicates, fast cash money that unintentionally creates job
opportunities towards logging and sawmill operators, no early education on the importance of
natural resources or forest, lack of awareness, lack of sense of belongings/ownerships among the
communities can initiate the complexities in reducing the illegal logging problem.
Based on articles used, Terengganu Forestry Department director, Azmi Nordin (2015)
stated in New Straits Times that illegal loggers are widespread and a lot of them. They are well organized and appear to have a firm grip on the loader operators, making it impossible for the
authorities to gather evidence for the courts. Hence, we can see the illegal loggers syndicate would
do anything to prevent Forestry Department efforts in stopping this criminal activities.
Basically, awareness campaign is not enough to tell this people especially the villagers in
rural area the consequences of illegal logging. The education on early stages must be given to
ensure all people know the importance of forest towards living thing. Yes, the illegal work on
logging can create fast cash towards them, but through education, they would know more the
consequences of illegal logging activities. Compare to people that live in city, they should be
educate too in early stages that preserving these forest not only give them opportunity to know
11

more about the background of the forest but it also provide oxygen towards human being and
shelter towards animals.
2.2.2 What events caused this problem?
As we can see, the cause of this problem from every factors possibly due to the greed of
human beings and ungratefulness towards natural resources. The greed of human beings can be
seen in the article noted that illegal logging has been detected at eco-sensitive water catchment
areas in the Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest reserves, which are essential to fill the Paya Peda Dam
in Hulu Besut. Terengganu Forestry Department, Azmi Nordin said that illegal loggers syndicate do
not care on the consequences that they cause to environment around the villagers and their
necessities of life that depends on forest and water dam.
The greed of knowing the profit they can gain from illegal logging and trading illegal
woods. Due to demand of timber nowadays not only can cause violation of forest law but also result
contamination towards Gunung Tebu forest reserve. The loader operators are ungrateful and only
care their own fast income as they do not care that natural resources such water are the necessities
for the padi farmers that live nearby Paya Peda Dam in Hulu Besut.
2.2.3 Why is it a problem?
One of the contributing factors that cause illegal logging problem is the demand or supply for
timber towards buyers.

Figure 1

12

Figure 2

2014 Performance of the Malaysian Timber Trade Sources from

http://mtc.com.my/annualtrade/2013-performance-of-the-malaysian-timber-trade/
The Figure 1 and Figure 2 shown the Performance of the Malaysian Timber Trade that
were taken from Malaysian Timber Council official website. Malaysia total export of timber on
2014 were RM20 billion (RM20 519 663 879 exact amount) showing an increase from 2013,
RM19.53 billion. Same as 2013, Japan, India and USA still the biggest market of export from
Malaysia timber.
From the figure, it shows the legal trade of Malaysia towards other countries and we can see
the increasing demands of timber every year. The timber from every products can produce tons of
things in daily life such as furniture. Imagine how many profit can be gain from illegal trade that
cause by greed sawmills operators. Since the illegal loggers have a tight grip on loader operators, it
unintentionally creates job opportunities to them to get easy cash or fast money because the
payment were made by cash from their illegal work. Therefore, excessive demand in exporting
timber can lead to illegal forest operations.
2.2.4 Does the problem pose threat? To people? To organization? To the community?
In what way is it a threat?

The problem of course do possess threat or impacts to people, government, and

organization. The problem do possess more impact especially towards forest-dependent people in
terms of environmental, social and economic aspects. As we can see in the article, it is obviously
stated that the water dam is paddy planters resources in producing rice - daily food of Malaysian.
The dam cant contain too much water if it became shallow that caused by illegal logging in
Gunung Tebu forest reserve. It does bring impacts towards these villagers since rice is their daily
sources of food. Previous mentioned too, excess of water can cause flood flow downstream to
13

Jerteh town. This result landslides (natural disaster), structured buildings or homes are damaged due
to flood water, shortage of food crop due to loss of entire paddy that are not yet harvest, diseases
that are caused by unclean water of the floods and many more.
In terms of environmental aspects, the article had highlighted that illegal logging activities
are detected at eco-sensitive water catchment areas in the Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest reserves.
Forest reserve is a specific term for designated forest that are under constitutional protection under
legal systems of many countries. Gunung Tebu is one of the forest reserve. One of the main
objectives of forest reserves is to promote the recovery of endangered and threatened species under
the Endangered Species Act (ESA), to improve plant and animal biodiversity; and to enhance
carbon sequestration. It is obviously violate the law when there are logging activities at such forest
reserves. Loss of forest that caused by illegal logging activities can result in destroying wildlife
habitats and threaten biodiversity.
In economic aspects, the floods that may cause by the excess water of the dam, there will be
temporarily decline in tourism such as Gunung Tebu forest reserves. It might be temporarily closed
since the main cause of the illegal logging activities are detected at that area. The infected residents
had to bear rebuilding costs of the shops and houses of their own infected area. The shortage in
food supply and high demand to buy the food causes the supplier taking advantages to increase the
price. The connection between people in infected area will be temporarily unable for outsiders to
help the residents.
2.2.5 What are the specific causes of the problem?
As previously discussed, the specific causes of the problems include the lack of knowledge,
understanding, and no education on importance of forest or trees towards living thing. The
existence of arrogant and greediness among the illegal logging syndicates, fast cash money that
unintentionally creates job opportunities towards logging and sawmill operators. Lack of awareness
and transparency; and lacking in sense of belongings among the communities can add more
problem in reducing the illegal logging activities.

2.2.6 Does the problem have long-term or short-term effects on individual people? On the
community? On the environment?

14

As previously discussed, the problem do have both have long-term and short-term effects in
terms of environmental, social and economic aspects either individual or community. Forest
hydrology combines aspects of two separate disciplines: hydrology and forestry. As we know from
the article, forest floor act as span that regulate water cycle to rivers and forest trees. They act as
span and release the water slowly continuously to river to ensure the water is still flowing
especially during the monsoon and dry season. The water feature is also for heat-stabilizing
microclimate in neighbourhoods by shading homes, city and streets. They release water vapor
through leaves into the air.
Forest also act as soil stability to ensure the slope are stable and withstand to undergo
movement inside the soil. Stability is determined by the balance of shear stress and shear strength.
If the soil is unstable, the soil structure become loose and led to massive landslides. It can also
cause flash flood from overflowing dam excess water and cause water-spread diseases to
contaminated area and the residents. The flash floods and landslides also can lead to loss of
innocent lives.
2.2.7

Is the problem connected to other problems? In what way?

The problems indeed connected to other problems. It connected to the padi farmers sources

of income. The problem will occurs during dry seasons. When the dam is dried up, all thats left is
sediment. If the rain fall down, it cant contain excess water since the dam already became
shallower. This can cause problem to padi farmers because Paya Peda Dam is their water catchment
area in production of rice. Once it cant contain the excess water, it will overflowed and rushed
downstream, causes another problem which is flood to Jerteh town. If the flood happen, there will
be loss of innocent lives.
2.2.8 What have been done at the moment to solve this issue?
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/forestry-dept-needs-more-muscle
Based from the article from New Strait Times (2015), Forestry Department have conducted
Op Balak Haram 6 in Setiu and Besut on August 17 by 24 men of the state of Forestry Department
enforcement unit and the General Operation Force, a small measure of success was achieved with
the arrest of nine workers and seizure of logging machineries at two illegal sawmills.
From the article, we can see that actually Forestry Department had done a lot of effort to
curb the illegal logging matter. However, Op Balak Haram 6 is not the last effort to curb the illegal
15

logging problem. There is still ongoing effort by Forestry Department included distributing flyers at
mosque and surau all over the state especially in rural areas to enhance public cooperation and
awareness on its impact on the environment and states economy. Unfortunately, based on
observation on recent raid in Hulu Seladang in Setiu at about 2am, there seems to be no regret or
repentance among illegal loggers after the raid. Its like they do not have any concern about
environmental damage that cause by their greed. The enforcement unit had sealed an excavator so
that the second operation can be done in Besut. When they returned to check back on the sealed
items, the excavator had gone missing. The source from an enforcement unit noted that this was not
the first time it happen. It will continue to happen unless they jack up the manpower in enforcement
units.
So, we can see that actually there always ongoing effort from Forestry Department
enforcement units and related authorities to curb the illegal logging problems. However, due to lack
of cooperation with involved parties to arrest the masterminds of the activities, local villagers, no
remorse among illegal loggers and shortage of manpower have cause the illegal logging become
very hard to eradicate.
2.2.9 Why the current solutions have failed to solve the issue?
The current efforts that were done by Forestry Department enforcement unit and the General
Operations Force to curb the problem have not failed. As previously mentioned, the illegal loggers
have no remorse among them even after the raid nor do they not care the negative impacts that
could happen to environment and innocent lives. There is a lot of contributing factors on why they
still doing the illegal operations as usual even after the raid.
One of the factors is that the syndicate of illegal loggers are well-organised. As mentioned,
the illegal logging problems unintentionally creates job opportunities to the poor villagers because
they provide fast cash money earned to them. The transactions through cash is not like electronic
transactions since it cannot be track. So, basically it is hard to track the mastermind that gave
money to the illegal logger syndicates. Besides that, there is lack of collaboration between related
agencies (Department of Wildlife and National Parks, Land and Survey Department, etc), nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and local citizens. Sometimes, their words speaks louder than
actions. Besides, theres also not enough resources or knowledge in order to curb this problems. It
seems most of people likes to point fingers at each other.

16

2.3

IF I WERE approach (Annisa Shahirah)

2.3.1

If I were the illegal loggers.

I would quit this dirty job and find another one that is legal. This is because, firstly, I must

care about the environments and should be aware that illegal logging could cause a widespread
damage to the environments if I keep on doing this dirty job, I must think of the consequences of
my actions on the livelihood of others, not only human but also the animals. I must be aware that if
I keep on continuing my job, there are big possibilities that people who live at Jerteh town which is
just only 17 km away from the Paya Peda Dam might get hit by floods. Thirdly, Illegal logging
could be one the reason why other people dont have a stable income and I certainly dont want that
to happen. It is clear that my action would threaten the rice output by paddy farms in Besut. This is
because when the water from the dam that is utilized to irrigate 10,000 hectares of paddy fields are
filled with sediment, which come from the illegal logging activities, could make the paddy fields
becomes shallower. Therefore, the paddy wont produce a high quality of rice and, of course, the
farmers who has been working on the paddy fields wont get rewarded because they did not
producing a high quality of rice. Lastly, I have to think about the future generations. What am I
going to say to my future grandchildren when they ask me where have the trees gone to? Am I
going to tell them shamelessly that I was the one who illegally chopped off the trees or tell them
proudly that I am the one who stops the illegal logging? I want my future grandchildren to be able
to enjoy the beauty of nature as it is.
2.3.2 If I were the paddy farmers and live near the catchment areas
I would conduct a meeting with the other paddy farmers and also those who live near the
catchment areas and let them know about the illegal logging activities that had been detected at ecosensitive water catchment areas in the Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest reserves, which are essential
to fill the Paya Peda Dam in Hulu Besut. I would also let them know about what harm can it do to
not only to the paddy fields, but also to the village. I would also write a letter to the government and
inform them what the illegal loggers are doing and let them be aware of the effects or harms of the
illegal loggers activities not only to the paddy fields, but also to their home. I would ask the
government to take an immediate and a strict action towards the illegal loggers before anything bad
happen. In addition, I would tell the other villagers to take turns at night to watch the catchment
areas. Therefore, it would be easier to catch the illegal loggers and in the meantime we could
prevent their activities from operating. I would also voice out about the problem that we are facing
17

to the media. From there, people are aware of what we are currently dealing with and they could
probably help us preventing this illegal activity. The least that they could do is support us by
spreading the news.
2.3.3

If I were the Malaysian government

One of the reason that lead the loggers to illegally chopped the trees off is that the legal

supply of timber does not meet or match with the demand from the local processing industry and,
therefore, they tend to chopped off the trees illegally. If I were the Malaysian governments I would
overcome this unsolved issue by restricting the issuance or renewal of licenses to the mills or
factories that cannot prove they have adequate supply of timber from legitimate sources. I would
also go through again the existing rules and regulation set for the illegal loggers and tightens the
rules. Another reason why the illegal loggers are still out there is because they think that we are
going to let them go and give them another chance. Well, not anymore! I will not give the illegal
loggers a second chance. I would also implement a new set of harsh punishments and increase the
penalties to this crime. Maybe that way, these people would feel afraid to continue doing this dirty
job.

2.4

6 Thinking Hats (Wan Nurul Ain)

2.4.1

White Hat
The white hat is about data and information. It is used to record information that is currently

available and to identify further information that may be needed.

Illegal logging has taken place in the areas around the dam watershed eco-sensitive in the
area Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest reserves. The main purpose of the Paya Peda Dam in Hulu
Besut is to irrigate 10,000 hectares of padi fields in the vicinity. The dam can store up to 168
million cubic meters of water. Due to illegal logging in the area in the dam caused the water
becomes shallow. Forest reserves in the region are used to prevent floods and landslides. Forest
reserve absorbs 20 percent of rainwater and drain the water into the river. There are valuable trees
in forest reserves such as balau and meranti but almost all trees have been felled near Paya Peda
Dam and more than 20ha of the forest reserve had been cleared by those who do not care about the
environment.

2.4.2

Red Hat
18

The red hat is associated with feeling, intuition and emotion. The red hat allows people to
put forward feeling without justification or prejudice.
Illegal logging is cannot be prevented by the authorities. Due to the failure of the authorities
almost all Pelagat and Gunung Tebu forest reserve has been cut and cause water in the dam is
shallow and makes it difficult for residents to get water to be used to irrigate padi fields. It also can
result in such population lives in the area endangered by landslides and floods.

2.4.3

Black Hat
The black hat relates to caution. It is used for critical judgement. Sometimes it is easy to

overuse the black hat.

The attitude of some authorities underestimate the issue of illegal logging caused the
population around forest reserves around Paya Peda in Hulu Besut threatened by natural disasters
that may occur such as flash floods, landslides and so on. This condition causes the population in
the area Paya Peda in Hulu Besut live in unsafe conditions. Difficulty to keep the water in the dam
caused the water is shallow and difficult for residents to use water from dams for farming. This also
makes it difficult for people in the area Besut to seek their livelihood. If it happens does the
authorities responsible for carrying out work to provide water to people that live in Paya Peda to
solve problems arising due to the problem of illegal logging? For those who are responsible should
be punished for avoiding heavy things like this will happen again and troublesome people in the
future. Irresponsible authorities should also take legal action to prevent corruption for its own sake.

2.4.4

Yellow Hat
The yellow hat is for a positive view of thing. It looks for benefits in a situation. This hat

encourages a positive view even in people who are always critical.

Illegal logging often caused problems to the population and the government. But from
different angles of illegal logging are also give some advantages such as providing employment the
local people who are poor to make a living. Unemployment in the country will also decrease. Thus,
the standard of living will improve. Moreover, this can also increase state revenues. This is because
logging can help developed the industry feels wooden. Wooden be exported abroad. The image of
our country will also increase. This is going to cause a lot of people know our country. From the

19

government side, the government will receive high profits from legal and illegal logging land
conversion and increase the supply of timber to be supplied.

2.4.5

Green Hat
The green hat is for creative thinking and generating new ideas. This is your creative

thinking cap.
Illegal logging is somehow affected local residents and the state. Therefore the government
should immediately take action as an example of multilateral. The government should create a
program or advertise a lot of awareness about the importance of forest reserves such as the Forest
Biodiversity Programme of the Convention on Biological Diversity in order to protected reserve
forest in our country.
.2.4.6 Blue Hat
The blue hat is about process control. It is used for thinking about thinking. The blue hats
asks for summaries, conclusions and decisions.
Illegal logging around forest reserve adversely affect areas that have a high risk for the
occurrence of floods and landslides. These activities have brought eliminating habitats that live in
forest reserves and may affect the quantity of water storage in dams. Therefore the parties
responsible must immediately or attempt to prevent and catch all the parties that are not continue
responsible for the destruction of forest reserve in our country. The government should impose a
heavy action on the perpetrators of illegal logging so that it no longer applies.

20

STAGE 3: IDENTIFY POSSIBLE SOLUTION

1) The Government of Malaysia should require a state level certification on timber production and
establish a partnership and trade agreement that focus on improving regulation and governance of
the export and import of forest and timber product to other countries. (Tang Kai Wen)
2) There should be an awareness programmes or early education towards villagers (part of the target
group in awareness programmes) to enhance feeling and responsibility that is as much as related to
sense of belongings towards preserving the forest. Saleena Yusoff
3) The government should install Rainforest Connection (RFCx) devices, high in the tree shade where
they are covered up, near the Besut catchment area to track the illegal logging activities and to also
catch the illegal loggers. (Annisa Shahirah).
4) Campaign against illegal logging and preserve forest reserve together with nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Malaysian
Nature Society (MNS) and other organization to reduce the alarming rates of illegal logging.
(Wan Nurul Ain)

Solution 1 (Tang Kai Wen)

The Government of Malaysia should require a state level certification on timber production and
establish a partnership and trade agreement that focus on improving regulation and governance of
the export and import of forest and timber product to other countries.
Definition
Malaysia was one of the well-known country in Southeast Asia for its illegal logging activities
besides Indonesia. Illegal logging usually happens due to the greed of irresponsible individual for
personal gain. It could also due to weak enforcement of laws and regulation where it can either be
the causes of internal top government administration or due to the inability of surveillance
efficiently due to large surface area. It is known that USA import the most wood from other
countries, followed by China, Germany, Japan, UK and France.
With the participation of state level government, Terengganu particularly, where the implementation
requires all timber product that exit and enter the state border, are required to have a certification
with special identification from the authority. This can be done by registering every single timber to
21

the data center and tagging the timber with an identification in order to able to ship and trade in
nationwide.
Since Malaysia has been active in ensuring its participation and acceptability in international stage
and relation. Therefore, Malaysia can use its bilateral diplomatic relation to implement this
agreement with other nation at the international platform. This could ensure this regulation to be
performed fairly and without prejudice. Likewise, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) where it is a political and economic organization of ten Southeast Asian countries which
include: Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar
and Vietnam. Also in the list is Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) where it consist of
members from North America, Pacific Ocean and Asia including China and Japan. With this
platform, Malaysia could uphold a trust and agreement with all member, especially the major
importers, to discriminate all illegal timber product and ensuring all timber sources are to be from
legal sourcing and production of timber.
Supporting Arguments
With the establishment of this partnership and agreement, it could ensure the timber product that are
exported to the specific country are come from a legal sources through proper channel. This would
help timber-exporting countries to stop illegal logging by improving regulation and governance of
the forest sector. Usually, illegal loggers uses improper channel to do the business deal. In this case,
it is difficult for the authority to catch the syndicates. Therefore this can be overcome by defining
the legal timber through a series of certification and recording in black and white. With this
implementation, it enable the authority to take control over the timber supply chain. Countries that
are participated are to uphold the responsibility to ensuring all imported timber to have a valid
certification otherwise it will be rejected and no business deal will be dealt. This can be done by
verifying compliance where each partner country government chooses a governmental or nongovernmental body to verify that timber or timber products are legal. This verification body ensures
that timber is produced and/or processed in a way that meets the requirements of the definition of
legal timber, and that its supply chain has been controlled and checked. By having this, it can
ensure a country to have stable forest stakeholders for its exporting and also enable to contributing
to development objectives.

22

Solution 2 Saleena Yusoff

There should be an awareness programmes or early education towards villagers (part of the target
group in awareness programmes) to enhance feeling and responsibility that is as much as related to
sense of belongings/ownerships towards protecting the forest.
Definition
Everywhere in the world there is always part of country that considered valuable and sacred that are
deeply precious for some groups or ethnicity. There should be a sense of responsibility to protect
their places because the forest have become a place for certain group to depend on in terms of
foods, water or holy place since it has become the important elements in their life. If they care for
the place, they will act as whistle blower by reporting to legal authorities or forest ranger on any
suspicious activities regards the forest nearby. The villagers will know that even by having job
opportunities of fast cash payment, it wont guarantee the feeling of responsibility and how value
the forest was to them and their generation if they allow such illegal logging activities happen at
their place.
Supporting Arguments
By cultivating sense of responsibility towards villagers through the awareness programmes and
early education towards children, they will realized that if the illegal logging activities are
uncontrollable, there will be no forest left, the animal that depend on the forest as shelter and
hunting food will soon be dead and our next generation have no chance to know the natural habitats
that usually can be found in forest. The concept is not only towards adult but also in education
system too. The people who live in city (not forest-dependent people) also should cultivate the
sense of responsibility to protect the forest too. They should know the benefit of trees is not only
limited in creating an ecosystem to provide habitat and food for birds and other animals. Trees
absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gasses, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide,
from the air and release oxygen. One large tree can supply a day's supply of oxygen for four people.
Technically speaking, trees give us oxygen and protect us during climate change, cool the streets
and city, provide canopy and habitat for wildlife, save water, helps prevent water pollution, shield
human beings from ultra-violet rays and many more.

23

Solution 3 (Annisa Shahirah)

The government should install Rainforest Connection (RFCx) devices, high in the tree shade where
they are covered up, near the Besut catchment area to track the illegal logging activities and to also
catch the illegal loggers.
Definition

24

Topher White, who is not only a physicist and an engineer, but, he is also a founder of Rainforest
Connection (RFCx). RFCx is a device or, to be precise, an inventive utilization of old and unused
smartphone that is powered by flexible solar panels. It is a technology that was designed to stop
illegal logging and poaching on-the-spot. The smartphones will never go off because they have
been retrofitted with solar panels and they will actively monitor the sounds of the jungle and
transmit their data to a centralized database. The RFCxs team will install the devices by hiding
them high in the tree canopy where they cannot be seen. Each device will constantly catches all of
the surrounding sound, as well as the sound of destructive activities, for example, the sound of the
trees being chopped off by the chainsaws or a sound of fallen trees. This device can detect these
loud noises up to 1 kilometre out there. After the noises of these illegal logging being detected, the
device will trigger an alarm to RFCxs cloud server which in turn will send an SMS to the forest
rangers. In just a blink of an eye, the Malaysian governments can have the rangers on site to catch
the illegal loggers red-handed with the chainsaws and other tools nearby.
Supporting Arguments
This RFCxs device has been tested in early June 2013 at Indonesias western Sumatra, since it was
an ideal location to run the test. They placed 15 within the Air Tarusan reserve of western Sumatra,
dispersed far enough apart to listen for any chainsaw noises within a 0.5 kilometres radius. As this
test at first takes off, this device works magically. There were 4 smartphones, hidden within 135
25

hectares of Kalaweit Gibbon Sanctuary reserve forest, picked up the chainsaw noises. The
authorities responded, immediately get on to the sites and, of course, they managed to caught the
illegal loggers red-handed. The same event kept on going for 2 weeks and eventually, the illegal
logger took the hint and migrated from that area. Mr. White said to the Scientific American, After
a year, the illegal loggers have not returned. Now, thats a victory. This test is a proof that RFCxs
device does works. The Malaysian government should immediately install this device not only in
Besut but also other forests in Malaysia. It may not stop illegal logging, but it surely can catch the
illegal loggers before it gets worst. Besides that, since the devices only need an old, recycled,
thrown and unused smartphone, it will only cost the government about $2.89 a month. So cheap!
Another reason to install it.

Solution 4 (Wan Nurul Ain)

Campaign against illegal logging and preserve forest reserve together with non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and
other organization to reduce the alarming rates of illegal logging.
Definition
Illegal logging will lead to adverse effects on the environment. The impact of illegal logging has
changed the face of the earth in the area. Illegal logging has caused widespread conversion of
forests to agricultural land. Apart from reducing the amount of the original forest and forest
biodiversity and wildlife, illegal logging also contributes to soil erosion, sedimentation, slope
damage and landslides in Malaysia. Illegal logging and forest destruction continues in the
watershed will affect water supply and quality of water resources, the ability to pick up
groundwater and causing more flooding in the lowlands. It will also cause soil contamination. For
example, it could result in contamination of soil erosion, climate change, the greenhouse effect and
floods. Among the ways to solve this problem is to conduct activities such as exhibitions,
campaigns, competitions and other relevant again from the exhibition on the importance of forest
reserve to the population. This campaign can be done in schools and public places such as public
libraries or in public activities. This campaign may include environmental issues, habitat of animals
that live in the jurisdiction of forest reserves, the causes of illegal logging, its effects and what can
be done to reduce the deforestation rate. Campaigns related to the environment could also be held.
26

Supporting Arguments
Malaysia is a country that is developing and the developed centers in various fields. But the rapid
growth and expanding the center, many people do not realize that they also have side effects on the
all around. Earth's ecology and erosion has been plagued by the development of company activities
and illegal logging. Human invention has no value sensitive to social issues in the community is a
major cause of environmental degradation. Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as
Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also plays an active role in
alerting the community through activities such as campaigns, lectures and seminars. The campaigns
conducted Earth Day or Earth Day, celebrated on April 22 every year. Illegal logging is one of the
activities that were destroying and polluting our environment, including rivers and the sea. Of
illegal logging is also, it will also lead to the destruction of most of the natural habitat of freshwater
fish available. In addition to destroying the natural habitat of freshwater fish, illegal logging will
also destroy most of the forest habitat which in turn will lead to other problems such as soil erosion,
flooding, and global warming and so on. We should recognize that forests are critical habitat not
only to us but also to our environment. As we know, the existence of the plants is very important for
the environment in which it is needed to enable the use of carbon dioxide by plants and oxygen for
breathing returns.

Stage 4: DECIDE THE BEST SOLUTION

Solution 1 (Tang Kai Wen)
The Government of Malaysia should require a state level certification on timber production and
establish a partnership and trade agreement that focus on improving regulation and governance of
the export and import of forest and timber product to other countries.
(A) Advantages (Tang Kai Wen)
1) Improving regulation and governance of the forest sector
The agreement will defines 'legal timber', with also based on the laws and regulations of the partner
country. The legality definition ensures that forest law requirements are applicable, consistent,
understandable and enforceable provides a good opportunity for the timber-exporting country to
improve its forest governance and regulation, reinforce law enforcement and promote sustainable
forest management.
2) Action performed fairly and without prejudice
27

Afraid that there is certain individual behind all this mess. With this agreement, law enforcement
will be taken account as it will be witness by all member of countries and whenever there are a
trace of illegal timber. Leaving no chance of escaping.
3) Discriminate all illegal timber product and controlling the timber supply chain
This will able to ensure the illegal timber product has no market value when its to be traded,
leaving the syndicates earning nothing. This can be ensures by timber entering the supply chain
comes from legal sources.

4) Ensuring legal sourcing and production of timber

This system allows the timber-exporting country to verify that the timber and timber products are
sourced and produced legally, and to award a certification to each verified consignment. Once the
system is in place and has successfully passed an independent evaluation, the selected country will
then accept the approved timber from the partner country
5) Have stable forest stakeholders which enable to contribute to country development objectives
Provides an opportunity for forest stakeholders in the timber-producing country to get involved in
developing national legality standards. It can also support the partner country in achieving its
development objectives. These could include alleviating poverty, securing employment and
competitiveness, increasing government revenues, improving the capacity of government and the
private sector, strengthening the rule of law and securing the rights of people who are dependent on
forests for their livelihoods.
(B) Disadvantages (Tang Kai Wen)
1) The importers countries benefits nothing from this agreement while it is affecting its
development.
Country like the USA, China, Germany, Japan, UK and France benefit from nothing as they are not
the one that are affected. They could have use the resources spend on to activities that could benefit
them more,
2) Policies of agreement will changes from time to time.
28

Political games are hard to expect. Some country use it as a tactic to oppress on other country
governance.
3) Consume lot of time to reach an agreement from all the countries.
Each country term and condition has to be understood and agreed by everyone. Topic ranging from
budget, spending and benefit to one's own are taken into consideration. And to handle members that
consist of few continents are not easy task.

(A) - (B) = 5 - 3 = 2 Number of advantages is two more than disadvantages

https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sectors/environment/sustainable-forestry/flegt_en
http://www.china.org.cn/english/environment/79150.htm
http://www.ictsd.org/bridges-news/biores/news/eu-forestry-partnerships-rethinking-timber-tradeagreements
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/FCIN060.pdf/$FILE/FCIN060.pdf

Solution 2 Saleena Yusoff

Carry out awareness programmes or initiate an early education towards villagers (part of the target
group in awareness programmes) in cultivating feeling and responsibility, or fighting spirit that is as
much as related to sense of belongings/ownerships towards protecting the forest.
(A) Advantages
1) By carrying out this programmes, there is sense of responsibility especially among the villagers
that they need to protect their food security.
2) They tend to become whistleblower, because they feel the need to protect the forest especially if
there are any illegal or suspicious activities near or at the forest itself.
3)If there is sense of responsibility and feeling to protect or preserve the forest, all the illegal
logging and illegal timber trade problem; corruption that led illegal sawmills getting fast cash
payment through tips can be eradicate soon.
(B) Disadvantages

29

1) The time-line to cultivate the feeling or sense of responsibility cannot be determine in a few
months. Sometimes it takes whole life to cultivate those sense in human beings.
2) The sense of responsibility cannot be force to everyone.

(A) (B) = 3 1 = 2 Number of advantages is two more than disadvantages

https://forests2015.wordpress.com/2015/09/11/knowledge-about-our-forests-is-disappearing-asrapidly-as-the-forests-themselves/
http://www.unesco.org/most/bpik11-2.htm

Solution 3 (Annisa Shahirah)

The government should install Rainforest Connection (RFCx) devices, high in the tree shade where
they are covered up, near the Besut catchment area to track the illegal logging activities and to also
catch the illegal loggers.
(A) Advantages
1. It is the fastest and the most effective way to catch the illegal loggers since all the forest rangers
should to is to wait for the smartphones to pick up the sound of chainsaws and it will be transmitted
to cloud API. Then, all the forest rangers got to do is to immediately get on site and catch the illegal
loggers.
2. RFCxs is a low-cost technology; so, it does not cost much since the only thing that this device
need is an old, reused smartphones.
3. It cannot be seen because the devices are being installed high on the tree canopy which makes it
easier to catch the illegal loggers red-handed since they cannot see this device or destroy them.
(B) Disadvantages
1. There are slight chances that the forest rangers might not be nearby when the alarm triggered.
Therefore, no one will be there to catch the illegal loggers.
(A) - (B) = 3 - 1 = 2 Number of advantages is two more than disadvantages

30

http://www.care2.com/causes/heres-how-we-can-stop-illegal-logging-and-poaching-on-thespot.html
https://rfcx.org/
http://inhabitat.com/rainforest-connection-tackles-illegal-deforestation-with-solar-poweredsmartphones/

Solution 4 (Wan Nurul Ain)

Campaign against illegal logging and preserve forest reserve together with non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) such as World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and
other organization to reduce the alarming rates of illegal logging.

(A) Advantages

(B) Disadvantages

1. Preserve back the growth of trees in

the

forest.

importance
preserve

Awareness
of

these

forest

of

the

plants

to

conditions

1. Require the budget to keep back the

plants were destroyed.

were

sloppy by illegal logging. This

process can help a dam to store water
in dams.
2. Preserve habitats of endangered

2. The possibility of a high number of

animals and extinct. Awareness of

animals caused extinction of forest

the public can help preserve the

areas that have been destroyed.

habitat of animals that live in the

forest

and

protect

endangered

animals to survive.
3. Help educate people of all ages on
the importance of preserving the
plants in the forest reserve.

31

(A) (B) = 3 2 =1 Number of advantages is one more than disadvantages

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/canada/laws/17479
http://www.progressio.org.uk/sites/default/files/interact_10-2_summer.pdf
http://www.thecie.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Issues-paper-RIS-illegal-logging.pdf
http://inece.org/illegaltimber/Tacconi.pdf
http://theconversation.com/lessons-from-the-us-stopping-illegal-logging-benefits-both-sides-ofpolitics-9529

THE BEST SOLUTION

Therefore, we will like to choose the 3rd solution by Annisa Shahirah :The government should install Rainforest Connection (RFCx) devices, high in the tree shade
where they are covered up, near the Besut catchment area to track the illegal logging activities and
to also catch the illegal loggers.
We choose this solution since it is the most effective and fastest way to catch the illegal loggers.
Another reason why we have decided to choose this solution is because this device have been tested
in Sumatra, Indonesia and it worked. Since they manage to catch the illegal loggers in just no time,
it is a proof that we also can catch the illegal loggers at the primary forest and the forest reserves in
Pelagat and Gunung Tebu too. Not only we can restrain the illegal logging activities but as well as
reduce the illegal logging problem. By this, we can witness the forests return to their normal
function and state which is to serve as eco-sensitive water catchment areas at Hulu Besut.

32

33

PART C: REFERENCES AND SUPPORTING EVIDENCES

APPENDICES
Supporting Articles

1) Forestry Dept Needs More Muscle.

WHEN a raid under Op Balak Haram 6 was conducted in Setiu and Besut on Aug 17 by 24
men of the state Forestry Department enforcement unit and the General Operations Force, a small
measure of success was achieved with the arrest of nine workers and seizure of logging machineries
at two illegal sawmills. What was intriguing was that, after the sixth edition of Op Balak Haram
that resulted in the total arrests of 42 workers and seizures of machineries worth close to RM1
million, the illegal logging operations, especially in Besut, continued right after the enforcement
units left.
There seems to be no remorse among illegal loggers, nor do they care about the
environmental damage caused by their greed. And, it also seems that all the enforcement units can
do is to delay the illegal operations by seizing their heavy machinery. The success of the
enforcement units was also hampered by the sudden lack of cooperation among companies,
which could transport the seized machinery out of the illegal sawmills, to the extent that the forest
officials had to get help from the armed forces and Public Works Department. It is learned that the
kingpins of illegal logging would threaten the loader owners so they would not cooperate with the
enforcement units.
This tactic, thus, forced the forest officials to wait until late in the evening for a loader to
arrive and, in the meantime, enabled illegal loggers to make their exit from logging sites with their
equipment. It is observed that during a recent raid in Hulu Seladang in Setiu at about 2am, the
enforcement units sealed an excavator, and then rushed for a second operation in Besut. However,
when they returned to check on the sealed items, the excavator had gone missing. It has happened
before, and it will continue to happen unless we beef up our manpower. The illegal loggers are
organised. In the past, we were intimidated by them, but since we have engaged the General
Operations Force, we have achieved a high rate of success, said a source from an enforcement
unit.
But the two parties should integrate their operations with the Immigration Department, as
some of the workers at the illegal sawmills were foreigners. It was observed that the enforcement
team had to spend hours at the Setiu police station just to register their case and place those arrested
34

under temporary police custody. Another team should have been on standby to register their report
at the police station. A lot of time is wasted because we dont have enough men to support us
when filing a police report. We can conduct more raids in one night if we have another team to take
over the task of filing the report, said the source.
Op Balak Haram 6 is not the last effort to curb illegal logging state-wide, and the Forestry
Department is looking at other ways to enhance public cooperation and awareness on its impact on
the environment and the states economy. They have mooted the idea of distributing flyers at
mosques and surau all over the state, especially in rural areas, that will explain the importance of
forests in preventing environmental disasters, and how illegal logging can contribute to losses in the
state governments revenue, as well as encouraging the people to report the illegal activities.
Since forest matters come under the ambit of the state government, it will be necessary for
the administration to look at the serious shortage of manpower in the state Forestry Department to
safeguard the important economic resources that contribute to about 10 per cent of the revenue after
oil and gas. Taking care of the forest is not only about arresting illegal loggers, but also about
protecting the environment from disasters, such as floods and landslides that could destroy
farmlands as well as loss of property and lives. State Forestry director Azmi Nordin aptly said
recently that illegal loggers did not care about the environment or the consequences of their actions.
We are trying to protect a resource that is important to the state, but we are constrained by the
shortage of manpower to effectively execute our tasks, he said.
The writer is Terengganu bureau chief
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/09/forestry-dept-needs-more-muscle

2) SAM Hits Out at Rampant Logging at Gunung Besout

IPOH: Rampant logging in the Gunung Besout forest reserve near Sungkai has destroyed
the eco-system there, claimed Sahabat Alam Malaysia president S.M. Mohamed Idris. He alleged
that creeks had eroded and rivers filled with silt, causing the water to be polluted by suspended
solids and waste from deforestation.
Hillside erosion had also occurred due to the destruction of the forest on the steep hills by
logging companies harvesting wood without discrimination, he claimed. Mohamed Idris said the
forest reserve was one of the last remaining natural habitats for wildlife, so its destruction was a
concern. The destruction of forests for plantation-scale agricultural purposes in parts of the forest
35

reserve is causing erosion and damaging creeks and streams, resulting in the deposition of mud, he
said in a statement yesterday.
He noted that the forest reserve was established on Nov 21, 1915, and some 3,178ha had
been logged since 2010. Mohamed Idris said SAM was worried that the exploitation of the forest
reserve would affect its ability to supply raw water to the Gunung Besout water treatment plant.
The exploitation and destruction of the area could also impact the virgin jungle reserve (VJR). One
of the rules concerning a VJR is that it should be located in a permanent forest reserve and
surrounded by a managed forest, but the forest cover around Gunung Besout has been exploited and
destroyed, he said.
http://www.thestar.com.my/News/Nation/2015/08/08/SAM-hits-out-at-rampant-logging-at-GunungBesout/

36