ILLEGAL LOGGING AND FOREST OFFENCES IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA: PERCEIVED OPPORTUNITY FACTORS

Abstract

Background and Purpose: A model by the World Bank (2006) explained the causes of illegal logging and environmental crimes in terms of the simultaneous presence of methods, motives, and opportunities. This paper aims to examine the opportunity factors behind the commission of illegal logging and forest offences in Malaysia based on the perceptions of forest enforcement agencies.   Methodology: Responses from the agencies were mainly obtained through a set of questionnaire though semi-structured interviews were also carried out to support the quantitative findings. The strength of the factors was determined through data analysis using SPSS, where opportunity factors for committing illegal logging were analyzed according to the results of measures of central tendency and measures of dispersion.   Findings: Insufficient enforcement facilities and equipment were found in the study to be the most significant factors which present opportunities for committing the offences. Respondents also perceived the level of enforcement, cooperation between government agencies and the possibility of conviction as the factors which open up opportunities for illegal logging and forest offences.   Contributions: The results of the study may help create awareness and provide inputs for policy makers to formulate appropriate policy responses to curb illegal logging and other forest crimes.   Keywords: Environmental crime, illegal logging, opportunity factors, policy response, Act 313.   Cite as: Mohd Noor, M. N. H, Kadir, R., & Muhamad, S. (2020). Illegal logging and forest offences in peninsular Malaysia: Perceived opportunity factors.  Journal of Nusantara Studies, 5(2), 86-102. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol5iss2pp86-102