KOTA BHARU, July 15 — The Kelantan government has given an assurance that every forest reserve area that has been de-gazetted for development or exploration purposes will be replaced with another area to ensure that the state’s forest reserve area continues to be preserved.

Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Dr Mohamed Fadzli Hassan said the assurance also covers the issue of the degazetted Temangan Forest Reserve in Machang which is linked to granite mining activities.

“Actually, the issue arising in the Temangan Forest Reserve area is related to the approval given for granite mining in 2009.

“Since 2009, the approval has been given to a company to carry out granite mining in the Temangan Forest Reserve,” he said after the Kelantan State Government Exco meeting at the Kota Darulnaim Complex here today.

He said the area was recently degazetted as a forest reserve to enable the approval that was previously given to be implemented.

Mohamed Fadzli said he had sought clarification from the Kelantan State Forestry Department regarding the status of the replacement of the forest reserve area.

“I have contacted the Kelantan State Forestry Department to obtain certainty regarding the status of the replacement of the forest reserve. The Kelantan State Forestry has assured that any forest reserve that is cancelled must be replaced,” he said. 

In another development, State Education, Higher Education, Green Technology, Digital and Innovation Committee chairman Datuk Wan Roslan Wan Hamat said the state government is opening an international Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) pathway for tahfiz students by sponsoring them to pursue a Diploma in Aircraft Maintenance Mechanical Engineering at Dongyang Mirae University in South Korea.

He said 10 tahfiz students have been selected as the pioneer cohort and are expected to depart for South Korea in August to begin their three-year programme in September.

“Each student will receive a state government scholarship worth RM130,000 for the duration of the programme, in addition to free accommodation provided by the university.

“The programme has been specially designed to provide a balanced emphasis on theory, practical training and intensive hands-on experience, while exposing students to international university standards,” he said.

Wan Roslan said the inaugural programme aims to produce tahfiz graduates with professional skills that meet industry needs and labour market demands.

He said the initiative followed a Kelantan government delegation’s visit to South Korea from July 7 to 12, which focused on expanding international education and skills training opportunities for students from the state.

Following the visit, the Kelantan Islamic Foundation signed a memorandum of understanding with Dongyang Mirae University and the Korea Aviation Academy to strengthen cooperation in education and technical training for aircraft maintenance. — Bernama