Log theft in East Kalimantan

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: Thousands of cubic meters of illegal logs are allegedly transported every month to east Malaysia, costing the country billions of rupiah.

Antara reported on Sunday that a number of community leaders in Nunukan regency had expressed concern over the rampant theft of logs in the province's forests near the border with Malaysia.

They said the logs had been sold for around Rp 2.5 million per cubic meter in Malaysia.

The community leaders have also questioned the progress of investigation into Malaysian Yap Swee Kong, dubbed "the forest king", who along with cranes and logging trucks was reportedly caught red-handed in a forest here recently. (rms)