Sarawak Forestry has sole right to charge entrance fees

A nature trail layout map of Santubong National Park in which entrance fees based on State Laws are imposed, to be used to maintain the trails inside. – Photo courtesy of Sarawak Forestry

KUCHING: Certain quarters have been misleading the public by claiming that entrance fees to Santubong National Park should be paid to them instead of Sarawak Forestry.

In light of this blatant claim, Sarawak Forestry in a press statement reiterated that under the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Ordinance, 1995, the corporation is to “act as an agent of the Government and provide services in administering, assessing, collecting and enforcing payment of royalty, premium, fees and other dues or levies chargeable under, and to perform other functions conferred by the Forests Ordinance, the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance, 1998 and the Wild Life Protection Ordinance, 1998.”

“Sarawak Forestry was established by the Sarawak government in 2003 to handle all matters pertaining to the management of the state’s protected areas, and therefore, on behalf of the state government, we are the legal entity to collect and issue all entrance tickets into Sarawak’s national parks and nature reserves,” stressed Sarawak Forestry chief executive officer and managing director Datu Ali Yusop.

“The waterfall trail, all the way up to the summit, falls well within the boundary of Santubong National Park and the entrance fees imposed, which are based on State Laws, are used to maintain the trails inside.”

Subject to Section 5 and 6 of the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998, any person may enter a national park or nature reserve upon payment of entrance fees and other charges as prescribed in the Second Schedule.

Therefore, visitors are advised to pay and retain the Official Sarawak National Parks’ entrance tickets from the Santubong National Park headquarters to avoid being prosecuted for unauthorised entry.

Any person who fails to comply with the law, will be guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding RM3,000 and in case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding RM500 for each day the offence continues.

“To prevent further misinformation, illegal activities and encroachment of the park boundaries, Sarawak Forestry’s officers will be on duty at the Bukit Puteri Trail during weekends.

“Visitors will also be given an official Santubong National Park’s map of trails upon registration at the park headquarters. We would like to advise all visitors to get their information regarding the park from our officials to avoid any confusion,” Ali added.

Read more: http://www.theborneopost.com/2014/03/25/sarawak-forestry-has-sole-right-to-charge-entrance-fees-to-santubong/#ixzz2wvOYjqIb