BERA – The federal government has agreed to compensate states that maintain their forest reserves as water catchment areas and protect them against illegal logging activities, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
However, he said, the formula to determine the quantum for the compensation payment will be studied by the relevant ministry.
“Possibly, it can be discussed with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Economy) Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed, the finance minister, the environment and water minister, and the (respective) menteri besar. We can sit down together to discuss the formula,” he added.
He said this during the launch of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Digitalisation Empowerment Programme at Dewan Konvensyen Majlis Daerah Bera here today.
Also present were Mustapa, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa, his deputy, Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin, as well as Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail.
Earlier, Wan Rosdy in his speech expressed hope that the federal government consider rewarding Pahang for reserving more than 57% of the state size as forest reserves. – Bernama, November 21, 2021
