Google Maps picture of Forest Raja Balang Air Raub, Raub, Pahang.
(Source: Berita DIMENSi / Izzati Idris)

RAUB – Pahang is once again affected by a big flood that flooded the locals and their homes. Indeed, issues regarding floods in Pahang are not old news which led to the recent locals believing the flood happened because of the logging activities.

The percentage of forest in Malaysia decreased as much as 8.6% from the year 1990 to 2010 according to the statistics of the United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

Recently, a Google Map picture of the current Pahang forest landscape was actively shared among social media users especially on Twitter. The picture shows how critical the forests are in Pahang.

Curiosity lingers around social media users on current issues especially regarding logging activities in Pahang. They question the major culprits that are possibly the root of the cause of the flood that is happening.

The geographical change towards forest demographics in Pahang makes the land a critical state and it is confirmed by geologists.

Some of the local’s concerns on this matter are addressed by the Pahang Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail in his interview with Malay Mail. He mentioned that the Pahang state government has never exceeded any set quota that has been established by the National Land Council (NLC) under Annual Felling Rationing (CTT) of logging activities.

However, how can this possibly happen especially when the Pahang authorities previously clarified the issue regarding the logging activities in Pahang. If the logging activities are not stopped, the future of the preserved forest in Pahang will be completely dark.

Last year, local media reported that one corruption case involving a forest project in Pahang was investigated, believed to be worth RM27 million and was related to one government officer that also received a bribe amounting to RM3 million. This shows more than enough in portraying the current situation that could contribute towards geographical changes that happened in Pahang recently.

Google Maps picture of Forest in Raub, Pahang.
(Source: Berita DIMENSi / Izzati Idris)

Izyan Nazifa Khairizam, 22, said that she agrees that the flood that is happening at her hometown is caused by logging activities. It gets worse when there are political side agreements.

“I think we cannot deny the fact that corruption happens in this country. Successful countries face the same problem. The logging was not supposed to happen, we need to preserve it.

“Pahang forest needs to stop any logging activities whether it is legal or not in order to save our forest. This is very important to our ecosystem and to ourselves,” she said during an interview with Berita DIMENSi in person.

Noor Ashikin Idris, 29, expressed her disappointment towards irresponsible parties exploiting preserved forest especially for their own interest.

“I was so worried when I saw the picture of the Pahang forest landscape on Twitter. Pahang needs to protect their forest. It is sad to see how humans could be selfish and unbothered on nature issues,” added Noor Ashikin, during an interview with Berita DIMENSi through a Facetime call.

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