9/5/2006 KOTA KINABALU (The Star)  -  Oil palm companies should voluntarily remove trees planted on riverbank reserves and not wait for the authorities to act against them.

WWF Malaysia project manager for Sabah Darrel Webber said encroachment into the reserves could severely affect wildlife sanctuaries.

“We urge plantation owners, particularly along Sungai Kinabatangan, to re-examine their boundaries as stated in the land titles,” he said.

He said they should not wait for the authorities to come down hard on them when they could take proactive measures themselves.

“They must abide by the state government's warning and be better corporate citizens,” he said.

On March 4, Chief Minister Datuk Musa Aman warned that the state would act against planters who encroached on riparian reserves.

He had directed the Drainage and Irrigation and the Lands and Survey departments to take appropriate action. He also ordered a full study on the problem, particularly along Sungai Kinabatangan.

Riparian reserves involve the area within 30m of the riverbank, depending on the width of the river.