The Pahang government, which is led by the state Umno chief, 'awarded' a plum logging concession believed to be worth about RM100 million to the ruling party five years ago.

The concession, granted in March 1998, allows the party to log a 10,000-acre plot of land in Nenasi, about 100 kilometers south of Kuantan. Industry experts have conservatively estimated that the logging proceeds from this concession to be close to RM100 million.

To make the deal aboveboard, the party is required to pay a premium for the concession - a figure of RM4.8 million - to the state forest department. However until today, no payment has been made.