Questions have been raised over Pahang Menteri Besar and state Umno chief Adnan Yaakob's denial last week that his party was involved in a multi-million logging concession deal between Umno Pahang and logging company Seruan Gemilang Makmur (SGM).

Adnan, was quoted in media reports last Wednesday as saying he was unaware of the deal since the 10,000-acre plot of land belonging to the ruling party which is located in Nenasi - about 100km south of Kuantan - was approved by his predecessor, Khalil Yaakob.

However, documents in malaysiakini's possession showed the deal - which reeks of high-level corruption - was signed after Adnan took over as menteri besar and Umno Pahang chairmanship in 1999.

Documents and letters

The state Umno-SGM agreement was signed on Oct 2, 2000 where several other Umno leaders were also instrumental in ensuring that the company obtained logging licence from the state forestry office to clear the land ostensibly for a palm oil plantation.

Umno Pahang executive secretary Abdullah Rahmat signed the agreement on behalf of the party giving SGM the exclusive right to log the land - approximately 40 sq km in size - for a paltry payment of RM50,000.

Party treasurer Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman had also written a recommendation letter dated Feb 28, 2000 to the state forest department confirmed that the party "does not have any objection for the state forest office to issue a licence" to SGM.

"I understand that the applicant SGM has referred this matter to the menteri besar, and the MB agreed that this application should be given proper attention by the state forest office," said Abdul Rashid in the letter.

The licence is renewable for every 1,000 acres as the plot is broken up into 10 separate parcels to avoid the need for an environmental impact assessment (under the law, areas below 1,200 acres do not require EIA).

SGM is currently embroiled in a legal suit with Umno Pahang after it failed to obtain logging licences to clear the remaining tract of forest after having logged about 7,000 acres over the past three years.

In another letter dated Nov 13, 2002, the state forest office also told SGM that the company's application seeking to log on a replacement area for the Umno's land "was pending for the MB's approval".

It is learnt that SGM has sought to log on a replacement area as part of the 10,000-acre land has been intruded by other parties.

"The state forest office is preparing a working paper on the matter for the MB's attention. This working paper is regarding the proposal to seek a replacement area. However, the final decision lies with the MB," the letter stated.

'Explanation please'

Adnan has since been taken to task over the matter by opposition leaders.

"Since he took over as Pahang MB as well as the Umno Pahang chief (from Khalil) in 1999, can he explain why the RM4.8 million premium was not paid until today?" DAP national publicity chief Ronnie Liu.

He was referring to the party's repeated failures to clear the land premium despite four rare extensions being given since 2000.

The payment of the land premium would validate Umno Pahang's ownership of the land and give the ruling party the right to clear the land.

The legitimacy for the party to log on the land is now in question as the district land office in Pekan - where the plot of land is located - has confirmed last Friday that the land still belongs to the state government.

PAS Tahan state assembly representative Abdul Malik Yusof also told malaysiakini earlier that he had questioned the state government on the logging scandal during a state legislative assembly meeting in 2000 but had yet to receive any response.

He told malaysiakini that opposition leaders in Pahang will lodge a complaint to the Anti-Corruption Agency state office in Kuantan later today over the matter.

Attempts to reach Adnan to clear the air on the matter since Friday prove futile.