TERENGGANU April 27, 2026 – Terengganu Chief Minister Ir. Dato’ Seri Dr. Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar has reassured the state that logging activities remain firmly under control, while acknowledging the existence of small-scale illegal logging.
In an official written reply to a question raised by Mohd Husaimi Hussin (ADUN Hulu Besut) during the First Meeting of the Fourth Session of the Terengganu State Legislative Assembly (Dewan Undangan Negeri Terengganu Darul Iman) for 2026, the Chief Minister stressed that the state government takes illegal logging seriously and will not hesitate to enforce the law.
“Logging activities in Terengganu are still in a controlled state,” Dr. Samsuri stated. He noted that while irresponsible parties continue to carry out illegal logging on a small scale, the State Government through the Terengganu State Forestry Department (JPNT) conducts continuous enforcement operations in collaboration with various agencies including the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM), the Malaysian Armed Forces (PGA), the Public Works Department (JPJ), and other enforcement bodies.
For 2025, the department carried out nine (9) joint operations and 2,003 patrols and monitoring rounds up to March 2026. An additional six (6) joint operations were conducted in collaboration with state enforcement agencies.
On sustainable forest management, Dr. Samsuri highlighted that the state remains committed to balancing economic needs with forest conservation. The Terengganu Forestry Department has been allocated an Annual Allowable Cut (AAC) of 6,100 hectares per year by the National Land Council (MTN) under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12). In 2025, the state utilised 6,079.60 hectares — well within the approved quota.
For the upcoming 13th Malaysia Plan (2026–2030), the AAC has been set at 6,300 hectares per year (total 31,500 hectares). The state has also successfully maintained the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Forest Management (MC&I SFM) certification, audited by an independent body for two consecutive years (29 March 2024 – 31 March 2026).
To strengthen monitoring, the JPNT conducts ground, river, and aerial patrols (using drones). The department also employs the e-Geospatial Forest Management System (eGP), Forest Monitoring Using Remote Sensing (FMRS Plus), and the latest satellite imagery to detect any changes in forest areas.
The Chief Minister emphasised that the government will continue to take strict legal action against illegal loggers to protect the state’s forest treasury, ecosystem, and natural resources from encroachment, theft, and destruction.
The full official reply was shared by Dr. Samsuri on his official X account (@DrAhmadSamsuri) today.
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