Ministry Awaits Report on Encroachment of Forest Reserves
Copyright 2000 BERNAMA (Malaysian National News Agency)
October 10, 2000
BODY: The issue of encroachment of the forest reserve in Cameron Highlands will be tackled once the Science, Technology and Environment Ministry receives the satellite pictures on the affected areas from the Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (Macres).
Minister Datuk Law Hieng Ding said today the authorities could only determine the extent of the encroachment through the pictures before deciding on the action to take.
The pictures would also be sent to the Pahang government for further action, he told reporters after opening the Asia-Pacific 2000 Design Conference and Exhibition, here.
He was asked to comment on the encroachment in sevaral parts of the forest reserve in Cameron Highlands, like in Sungai Palas and Ulu Bertam, by several parties including vegetable farmers.
Last week, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob said the state governemnt would take stern action, including prosecution, against those who encroached on the forest reserve in Sungai Palas and would reafforest the cleared areas.
Asked about the design sector in the country, Law said the ministry was considering setting up an innovation centre to train young talented designers to upgrade the sector.
The government had also introduced the Industrial Grant Scheme (IGS) to help designers develop their ideas on a commercial scale, he added.
The two-day conference aimed at exposing the participants to the latest inventions in the development of the design sector in Asia Pacific also showcased quality products and designs by local and international companies.