New tactic used by timber-theft syndicate to prevent from being detected - MACC

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has uncovered a new tactic used by timber-theft syndicate to prevent from being detected by the authorities.

MACC deputy chief commissioner (Management and Professionalism) Datuk Mohamad Jamidan Abdullah said instead of building a special camp as a timber collection centre like they used to do, the syndicate would now cut the trees and take the timber out of the forest on the very same day to prevent from being detected.

"Prior to this, they would cut and gather all the timber in one place. When they heard that the authorities were mounting an operation, they would bury the timber to prevent it from being seized.

"Now, they have changed their modus operandi by cutting the trees and taking out the timber from the forest on the very same day before sending it to timber factory for processing," he told reporters after officiating the closing of the seminar on deforestation here today.

The two-day seminar was also attended by Kelantan MACC director Datuk Moh Samsuddin Yusof and Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) director Cynthia Gabriel.

Mohamad Jamidan said the syndicate was also detected to have operated in different states to confuse the authorities.

"For example, timber stolen in Bentong, Pahang, will be sent directly to a factory in Serdang, Selangor," he said.

Such a crime, he said should be curbed as it had not only cause revenue loss for the state and country, but could also lead to the theft of other natural resources, such as gold and bauxite.