The Malaysian government has agreed in principle on stiffer penalties for illegal loggers.
The cabinet is taking a serious view of illegal logging because of the negative impact on the environment.
Meanwhile, eight men, including a forestry department forester, are being detained during ongoing investigations into illegal logging at the Kemasul Forest Reserve. The men are suspected of extracting timber with a market value of M$1m.
If convicted, they face a mandatory jail term of at least one year and a maximum fine of M$500,000.
