The Perak state government will leave it to the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to investigate the alleged bribery given by a logging company to a group of Orang Asli in Sungai Siput near here.

Menteri Besar Ahmad Faizal Azumu said the state government would continue to monitor the case.

“The state Forestry Department had submitted a report to me stating that further investigation revealed an illegal logging activity has taken place.

“I believe that the state Forestry Department will give its full cooperation in the investigation,” he told reporters after handing out 170 Musang King durian saplings from the Perak State Agriculture Development Corporation to three Orang Asli villages in Tapah yesterday.

Last Wednesday, 10 Orang Asli families from Kampung Lawai lodged a complaint with the MACC over allegations of receiving money from a logging company as an inducement for them not to protest against an illegal logging activity that has taken place since July.

They also handed over RM15,000 in alleged bribe money to the MACC.

The group had also lodged a police report over the matter at the Simpang Jalong police station.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Faizal refuted the allegation that an oil refinery would be built in Segari.

“There has been no approval for the construction of an oil refinery at Segari. The state government does not have the authority to pursue such a large project as it has to go through the National Physical Planning Council chaired by the Prime Minister," he said.

Yesterday, Rakan Segari, a coalition of several non-governmental organisations fishing community and residents in Lumut submitted a memorandum rejecting the proposal for the construction of the plant to a local authority representative for submission to the state government.

- Bernama