Give Kedah its RM100m allocation, Govt urged

Monday June 30, 2008

ALOR STAR: The Kedah Malay Assembly Hall (DPMK) has urged the Federal Government to pay the RM100mil compensation that Kedah was asking for protecting its forest in the water catchment areas.

DPMK chairman Tan Sri Khalid Abdullah said the Government should also give the state allocations similar to those received by Barisan Nasional-led states.

“There should not be double standards,” he told reporters yesterday.

Khalid said the DPMK passed a motion at its annual general meeting on Saturday to urge the Federal Government to give equal treatment to PAS-led Kedah.

When asked to comment on the state’s decision to log timber in water catchment areas, Khalid said it was up to the state to decide.

“I believe that the state will consider all aspects before conducting the logging,” he said.

On Saturday, Kedah Mentri Besar Azizan Abdul Razak was reported as saying that the state would meet representatives of a Sarawak-based logging company despite the controversy over his plan.

“We must keep an open mind. The company claims it has the technical know-how to carry out logging activities without harming the catchment areas.

“We will listen to what they have to say. We will then get the opinion of environment and technical experts before making a final decision,” he added.

Source: Star Online