KUALA LUMPUR, May 12 — The authorities froze over RM560 million in over 370 bank accounts and seized 500 timber logs in a massive raid in Sarawak to counter illegal logging, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) said today.

The MACC said this was the result of a state-wide raid in 48 locations from this morning that involved at least 400 enforcement officers.

“From the raid, so far, 375 accounts of companies and individuals worth over RM560 million has been frozen.

“As many as 500 timber logs have also been confiscated by the MACC,” the commission’s investigation division’s chief Datuk Mohamad Jamidan Abdullah said in a statement.

Mohamad Jamidan said further investigations will be carried out under the MACC Act 2009’s Sections 17(a) and 17(b), as well as Section 4 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001.

According to Mohamad Jamidan, the raid called “Ops Gergaji” was a coordinated effort spearheaded by the MACC to tackle bribery, illegal logging and tax evasion by timber companies in Sarawak.

“This joint operation proves the federal government and state government’s commitment to combat bribery within the timber sector besides tackling the widespread illegal logging and timber felling in Sarawak.

“It is believed that such actions have caused billions of ringgit in losses to the federal government and Sarawak state government,” Mohamad Jamidan said, adding that the anti-graft raid is also intended to protect Sarawak’s timber treasure.

The raid was carried out with the cooperation of the Sarawak state government, the Sarawak Forestry Department, the Inland Revenue Board and the police, including its General Operations Force.

In the anti-graft blitz, MACC said raids were carried out simultaneously on 48 locations which the authorities suspected were carrying out the illicit activities, citing detailed and comprehensive intelligence obtained by all agencies involved.

Out of the 48 locations, 27 were timber mills and log ponds, while the remaining were business premises located in six areas, namely Miri (13), Kuching (12), Sibu (12), Bintulu (6), Bakun (3) and Kapit (2).

Earlier this month, Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem was said to have pledged in London to protect the state’s forests from logging.

Activist group Bruno Manser Fund (BMF) said Adenan had in his speech said no more timber concessions will be given out in Sarawak and had also stated his view that a forest is valuable in and of itself, rather than just as a source of timber.

“No more palm oil is needed — cukup (there is enough),” the Sarawak leader who took over the state’s reins about a year ago was quoted saying at the Malaysian High Commission in London.

Adenan also voiced his determination to combat illegal logging and timber corruption “until the last log is accounted for”, BMF said on May 5.