Latest news with #ForestEnactment1968
Daily Express
23-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Jail and fine now for illegal carbon projects
Published on: Friday, May 23, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 23, 2025 By: David Thien Text Size: Application would go through the Sabah Forestry Department's Chief Conservator of Forest prior to submission for approval by the Sabah Cabinet. - FMT pic PENAMPANG: The Sabah Government is now focused on carbon trading, but not yet on the natural capital beneficial aspect, said Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan. Some clarity has emerged from the recent State Legislative Assembly session as it was stated that all carbon trading activities in Sabah now require mandatory licensing, following amendments to the Forest Enactment 1968 to regulate such activities. Now, anyone carrying out carbon projects in Sabah without a licence can be fined between RM100,000 and RM5 million and jailed up to five years, or both. Offenders can be ordered to pay up to 10 times the amount of fees or royalties owed, or up to 10 times the value of any forest produce involved, or any other charges due. The amendment on Part IIIB of the Forest Carbon Activity outlines that only those with written approval from the Sabah Cabinet can receive a licence, which will come with certain conditions and fees. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
17-05-2025
- Daily Express
Illegal felling in Forest Reserve: Logging firm, boss fined
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025 By: Cynthia D Baga Text Size: They were convicted under Section 30(1)(g) of the Forest Enactment 1968 and punishable under Section 30(2)(b) of the same Enactment, which provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, on conviction. - pix for illustration purposes only Kota Kinabalu: A logging company owner and its manager were fined a total of RM100,000 for having 238 logs for which the royalty was not paid, Friday. Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus meted out the sentence to manager Tiong Chee Khong and owner Yun Ket Chun, both 49, after ruling that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against them. Advertisement Each of them was fined RM50,000 or eight months' jail. They paid the fine. The duo were found guilty, without lawful authority or legal right, of having the logs measuring 630.17 cubic meters with unpaid royalty at 10.30am on Feb 7, 2020 in a log storage on the side of the logging road in Occupancy Permit No. JP (SOG) OP.132/2017 in Sipitang Forest Reserve, Sipitang. They were convicted under Section 30(1)(g) of the Forest Enactment 1968 and punishable under Section 30(2)(b) of the same Enactment, which provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years, or both, on conviction. The prosecution called 12 witnesses while three defence witnesses testified in the hearing. Advertisement On Dec 18, 2024, the duo were freed from three charges of felling 707 logs illegally in the Forest Reserve and State land in Sipitang without their defence being called. During mitigation, counsel Aaron Mark, who defended the duo, asked for a minimum fine only to be imposed on his clients, saying it was their first offence and level of harm is low as it involved monetary values to the State Government. Aaron further said the logs were rightfully cut and it was not related to damaging environment. However, Forestry Department Prosecuting Officer Peter Jack Empah urged the court to hand down an appropriate and deterrent sentence so as to send a clear message to the public that such offences will not be tolerated. Peter also submitted that the offence committed by the duo not only involves a violation of the law, but also impacts the State Government's revenue in terms of tax collection. 'The unpaid taxes to the State Government amount to approximately RM60,000. Their action of failing to pay taxes to the State Government appears to challenge the authority of the Sabah Forestry Department as the statutory body responsible for forest resource management in Sabah. 'If such actions are not curbed, they will have long-term effects on society and may encourage more individuals to commit similar offences in the future. 'The Sabah Forestry Department regards the offence as extremely serious,' said Peter. The court ordered for the seized logs to be forfeited to the Government through the Forestry Department. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
16-05-2025
- Borneo Post
Company owner, manager fined for unlawful possession of logs
KOTA KINABALU (May 16): A company owner and its manager were fined by a Sessions Court here today a total of RM100,000, in default, eight months' jail for unlawful possession of 238 logs without paying royalty. Judge Elsie Primus imposed RM50,000 fine each on Tiong Chee Khong and Yun Ket Chun, both aged 50, after a full trial. In her reserved decision, the judge held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt against the two accused. Both of them had paid their fines. The duo was found guilty of without lawful authority or legal right, having the logs that had not been paid royalty at a log storage area in the Sipitang Forest Reserve on February 7, 2020. The offence was under Section 30(1) g of the Forest Enactment 1968, punishable under Section 30(2) (b) of the same Enactment. The indictment provides for a fine of up to RM500,000 or a jail term of up to five years or both, upon conviction. On December 18, 2024, the duo was freed from three charges of felling 707 logs illegally in the forest reserves and State land in Sipitang without their defence being called. For this offence, which was their fourth charge, they were called to enter defence. During mitigation, counsel Aaron Mark who represented the duo, requested for a minimum fine to be imposed on his clients saying that they were first-time offenders. Aaron argued that that these logs were rightfully cut and it was not related to damaging environment. In reply, Forestry Department prosecuting officer Peter Jack Empah urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence on Tiong and Yun. Peter submitted that the offence committed by the duo not only involved a violation of the law, but it also impacted the State Government's revenue in terms of tax collection. 'The unpaid taxes to the State Government amount to approximately RM60,000. Their action of failing to pay taxes to the State Government appeared to challenge the authority of the Sabah Forestry Department as the statutory body responsible for forest resource management in Sabah. 'If such actions are not curbed, they will have long-term effects on society and may encourage more individuals to commit similar offences in the future,' Peter added. The prosecution had called 12 witnesses to give their evidence while three defence witnesses had testified in the hearing, including Tiong and Yun. The cases were first brought to court on June 21, 2023.
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Daily Express
16-05-2025
- Daily Express
Logging firm owner, manager fined RM100,000 for unpaid timber royalties
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 Text Size: For illustrative purposes only. KOTA KINABALU: A logging company owner and manager were fined RM100,000 by the Sessions Court here on Friday for possessing 238 logs without paying the required royalty. Judge Elsie Primus ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt against Yun Ket Chun and Tiong Chee Khong, who were each fined RM50,000 or face eight months' jail, which they paid. Advertisement The offence took place on Feb 7, 2020, in the Sipitang Forest Reserve, where the duo was found in possession of 630.17 cubic metres of logs without lawful authority or royalty payment. The pair were convicted under the Forest Enactment 1968, with the prosecution arguing the offence deprived the state of RM60,000 in revenue and challenged the Sabah Forestry Department's authority. The court also ordered all seized logs forfeited to the government, following calls for a deterrent sentence to prevent similar offences in the future. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
16-05-2025
- Daily Express
Smuggling Seraya timber from Timbun Mata Forest Reserve foiled: Cops
Published on: Friday, May 16, 2025 Published on: Fri, May 16, 2025 By: Azmie Lim Text Size: The suspects and sawn timber seized by Marine Police. Photo at right shows the subsidised cooking oil seized from a boat in Kg Panji. SEMPORNA: Marine Police foiled an attempt by two men to make off with sawn timber believed stolen from Pulau Timbun Mata Forest Reserve, on Wednesday. Sabah Region Four Marine Commander, ACP Mohd Nazri Ibrahim, said while patrolling in the Tobo-Tobo waters, the team spotted a speed boat carrying the sawn timber, at about 1.30am Advertisement 'Upon inspection, the team found that the boat was operated by a 41-year-old local man and a 42-year-old foreigner. 'All the seizures, including the boat and its engine, were estimated to be worth RM30,350,' he said, adding that the case would be investigated under the Forest Enactment 1968 and Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63. In a separate raid, the Marine seized a total of 663kg of packets of subsidised cooking oil following an operation off Kampung Panji waters. The subsidised items were left inside a speed boat which was towed to a jetty. The items were believed to be smuggled out to a neighbouring country. He said all the seizures estimated worth RM62,014 and investigation would be carried out under the Control of Supply Act 1961. Marine Sabah remains committed to combating smuggling activities for national safety and well-being. In Lahad Datu, police arrested three men and seized substance suspected to be syabu worth RM8,063. The arrest and seizure were made following a raid on a hut at Kg Ubi, Jalan Kenangan conducted by the Narcotic Crime Investigation Division (JSJN) of Lahad Datu Police Headquarters. Acting District Police Chief, Supt Jimmy Panyau, said following the raid, the team seized 73.30 grammes of syabu as well as tools suspected of being used in the drug-related activities. 'Urine tests conducted on the suspects showed two of them tested positive for Methamphetamine and Amphetamine. 'All three suspects aged between 27 and 48 were detained for further investigations,' he said. Jimmy said they suspects also did not have any valid identification documents. The case is investigated under Section 39B and Section 15(1)(a) of the Dangerous Drug Act 1952. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
