» »Unlabelled » Ensuring enough timber supply BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

19:59:00

Ensuring enough timber supply BorneoPost Online | Borneo , Malaysia, Sarawak Daily News » Sabah - New 2 Borneo

Ensuring enough timber supply

Posted: 29 May 2014 12:33 PM PDT

by Jonathan Chia and Marilyn Ten reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on May 30, 2014, Friday

State government should encourage industry players to venture into planted forests — Head of State

KUCHING: The timber industry in the state can no longer depend on timber from natural forest for sustainable production because they are depleting.

As such the state government should encourage industry players to go into planted forest as the future of the industry hinges on their success.

In making the suggestion, the Yang di-Pertua Negari Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud said : "The industry has one more challenge to accomplish and that is to make sure we will be able to produce more timber within the next one generation.

"But this cannot come from the natural forest anymore because it would have to sustainably produce around nine million cubic metres a year."

Speaking at the Sarawak Timber Association (STA) dinner Wednesday, which was held in his honour and that of Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem at Wisma STA here, Taib said Sarawak was the largest producer and exporter of tropical timber plywood in the country.

"All these were achieved through the efficient and effective implementation of government development strategies by agencies like Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC)," he said, adding that export had gone up to RM7 billion comprising logs, sawn timber, plywood, veneer, moldings, medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and other timber products.

Taib also noted that the timber industry had contributed much to the state.

"Not many businessmen would understand the difficulty our people have got to face in the interior areas of Belaga and Ulu Baram to extract timber and how dependent they are to get assistance from you (timber industry players)," he said.

He said each time the timber industry players were to pass and develop more concessions they would have to prepare sites for longhouses and even assisted in improving the road in such areas.

"We have been accused of exploiting the people and the irony of it is that whenever there is a timber blockade carried out by the minority of people, I know many of the people from the timber industry continue to provide them with food for lunch and dinner despite their business being affected.

This, he said, would have never occurred in countries such as United States or Canada but unfortunately the state's timber industry has earned a bad name overseas just because there are non-governmental organisations (NGOs) who have their own agenda.

"I have asked some of the NGOs at one time to take a photograph from the satellite and zoom to see whether our forests have been cut clear completely, they did not want to because they were not sure what they would find.

"If they can see my house from the satellite photo, I'm sure they can detect whether our forests have been cut clean or are still there," he added.

Nevertheless, he believed in providing constant explanation as the NGOs should not be allowed to criticise without condition.

"But don't expect them to stop because it is their job to criticise. Eventually, the truth will come out."

On another subject, Taib commended STA for its strong cooperation with the state government that had been forged for almost 20 years.

"My advice to you is to maintain your leadership role and continue to improve yourself as well as the systems. Remain involved in the international arena on the preservation of forests and biodiversity in general.

"Strategic and proactive communications is important to tackle negative media reports on the timber industry. We cannot be oblivious to such reports in order to maintain a good image of the industry and the country as whole. Play an active role in communicating our message to the public at large."

During the dinner, Taib was presented with the STA Golden Member Medal in recognition of his vision and exemplary leadership by STA chairman Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik.

Wong also presented the chief minister with the same medal to welcome him as a guardian to STA.

Toh Puan Ragad Kurdi Taib, Puan Sri Dato Jamilah Anu, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu and his wife Dato Sri Empiang, Second Finance Minister Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh, Land Development Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar James Masing, Second Minister of Resource Planning and Environment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan and STA honorary secretary Dato Henry Lau were among those who came to the dinner.

Print Friendly

Work with state govt to develop timber industry — Adenan

Posted: 29 May 2014 12:28 PM PDT

by Jonathan Chia & Marilyn Tenreporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on May 30, 2014, Friday

KUCHING: Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem has called on timber industry players in the state to work together with the state government to develop the industry.

According to him, such collaboration would be of mutual interest and bring benefit to all stakeholders.

"Don't always be on the opposite side when we can work together as united stakeholders. Mind you, in the future, there will be more opposition and more sophistication in the opposition.

"The European market is now imposing not just tariff but also non-tariff barriers, social barriers and even barrier from indigenous people. When you comply with the conditions, they will create another one," he said at the Sarawak Timber Association (STA) appreciation dinner for Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud which was also held to welcome Adenan as new chief minister at Wisma STA here on Wednesday.

Giving credit to Taib for his contributions to the state's timber industry, Adenan said he had rationalised the industry's upstream and downstream sectors and created an industry from mere logging activities in the early 1980s when there were confusion and even misdirection.

"We had fought those who wished us ill in the timber industry, they tried to stop us here, there and everywhere but we maintained the same cause. We have more fights to go in the years to come but we must be firm in the cause which is right."

Adenan also hit out at some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that tried to stop the state's timber industry. He said the timber industry is a major industry and big contributor to the state's economy.

"I am made to understand that the timber industry provides about 100,000 jobs. Can you just imagine if we follow what some NGOs say to just shut down the timber industry? Some 100,000 people will be out of job and that will be destruction and cause downturn to our economy."

Despite the barriers that were imposed by the European markets that made up only two per cent of the state's timber export, the   state was fortunate that Japan, China and Taiwan continued to import timber products from the state.

"So our emphasis must be on the alternative market and we must show them it is not necessary to comply with EU standards. If they are happy with our practices here from the point of view of conservation, environmental control and so on, so be it but we cannot let down on this one."

However, he reminded the state timber industry players that it is their obligation to run the industry along proper lines of conservation, optimum use of timber resources and marketing, adding "we must do it rationally, treat it as an industry and retain added value to our economy. So we are there already but there is more that we can do."

Adenan also said that he expected the federal government to be sympathetic to Sarawak and not just commit the state into some international obligation without consulting the state government.

"I have emphasised this to some federal ministers that if the federal government enters into some sort of treaty or whatever it is, consult us first because we are the main party that will be involved in this area."

At the same time, he hoped to see the state's timber industry expanding into other markets in years to come, advising timber industry players in the state to "find more markets overseas as you have tried to find for palm oil and so on because we have a     good product and we must develop it".

He also hoped they would make it their responsibility to combat anti-timber lobbying and not just depend on the government to conduct public relations exercises on their behalf.

"You have to do it yourselves. The training of timber industry manpower and skills development in the timber industry must be your responsibility. We can work together on this one but don't leave it to the government to do everything for you.

"So these require research and don't leave it to the government alone to do research. You are a big player in this industry and you must engage yourself in research and development if you want to stay competitive and stay for a long time in the industry."

He also called for constant dialogues between timber industry players and the state government considering that the timber industry is very important to everyone.

Print Friendly

TYT briefed on Sarawak Museums Campus Project

Posted: 29 May 2014 12:26 PM PDT

KUCHING: Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud was briefed on the progress of the Sarawak Museums Campus Project yesterday.

Assistant Minister of Tourism Datuk Talib Zulpilip, who is museum taskforce chairman, conducted the briefing at Bangunan Baitul Makmur.

The project involves the demolition of the present Dewan Tun Abdul Razak and replacing it with a state of the art purpose-built museum building with a connected annexe for collections storage, conservation, museum administration and research.

The project is expected to be completed in phases by 2019 because of the need to have parts of the Sarawak Museum open to visitors.

Among those present were Cahya Mata Sarawak group managing director Datuk Richard Curtis, Sarawak Museum director Ipoi Datan and Arkitek KDI Sdn Bhd director Dato Sri John Lau.

Print Friendly
We encourage commenting on our stories to give readers a chance to express their opinions; please refrain from vulgar language, insidious, seditious or slanderous remarks. While the comments here reflect the views of the readers, they are not necessarily that of Borneo Post Online. Borneo Post Online reserves the right not to publish or to remove comments that are offensive or volatile. Please read the Commenting Rules.

SUPP Youth: SUPP, SPDP contesting against BN not true

Posted: 29 May 2014 12:25 PM PDT

KUCHING: Rumour of Sarawak United People's Party (SUPP) teaming up with Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP) to challenge Barisan Nasional (BN) in the coming state election is ridiculous.

SUPP Youth secretary-general Wilfred Yap in saying this said both parties were component parties of Barisan Nasional and had been loyal partners of the BN government all these years.

"The two parties do not need to contest against BN and have no intention of doing so as both are part and parcel of the state Barisan," he said in a statement yesterday.

He said this in response to Opar assemblyman Ranum Mina, who in a Wednesday news report was quoted as saying that such rumours could be real and nothing was impossible in politics.

Ranum is one of four assemblymen led by Dato Sri Wong Soon Koh who quit SUPP to join Teras.

According to the Wednesday report, rumours have it that SPDP and SUPP would team up with opposition Sarawak Workers Party (SWP) to contest in their traditional seats should BN is represented by the incumbents who recently joined Teras, which now has 10 assemblymen.

Yap said he was greatly disappointed and shocked by the baseless and irresponsible statement blatantly made by Ranum.

"Ranum was elected on SUPP's ticket, representing BN in the last state election in 2011, and his statement is, in effect, a deflection of the real issue at hand which is BN solidarity and unity," he added.

On a related note, Yap reiterated the unwavering stand of SUPP Youth that it would object to any application of any political party, such as Teras, to join the state BN unless there is an absolute consensus from all current BN components.

Yap said that admission of any political party without consensus from all BN component parties would undeniably shake the moral fabrics of solidarity and unity that had held BN together.

As such, he said he had strong confidence that all BN component parties would stand firm in upholding the principles of their partnership and respect the views of all component parties.

Print Friendly

STA praises Taib for timber revolution

Posted: 29 May 2014 12:21 PM PDT

by Jonathan Chia & Marilyn Ten reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on May 30, 2014, Friday

KUCHING: Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has been commended for his visionary and down-to-earth leadership in transforming the state's timber industry.

Sarawak Timber Association (STA) chairman Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik said during his tenure as chief minister, Taib had transformed Sarawak's timber industry from a humble enterprise to one that generated revenue of RM7 billion last year.

"Very importantly, the timber industry has provided a great number of job opportunities and rewards to some 100,000 people, not including those spin-off industries and their dependence," he said.

Wong said this in his text of speech read by STA honorary secretary Dato Henry Lau at the STA appreciation dinner for the Yang di-Pertua Negeri which was also held to welcome Tan Sri Datuk Amar Adenan Satem as the state's new chief minister in Wisma STA here on Wednesday.

Wong also pointed out that Taib had encouraged timber industry players to work closely with one another and to carry out timber activities prudently.

"In 1989, amidst the unfounded accusation from some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) Tun Pehin Sri openly invited International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO) to come to Sarawak and he refused to bow to pressure by the NGOs to ban the export of round logs."

Instead, he said, Taib encouraged the development of downstream processing capabilities by reserving a certain percentage of logs for local processing, including providing local industries with reduced royalty as incentive.

"Looking back, we are indeed very proud to enjoy the smooth upbringing of downstream timber processing industries gaining revenue that's not at the expense of loggers."

Wong said the win-win situation bore witness to Taib's prudent economic management efforts in bringing value-added benefits to the state and people.

"During his tenure, Tun Pehin Sri also encouraged all timber operators to join STA as a single body so that all the players in the timber industry can be united and work together to come out with the best practices in the timber industry.

"Only time will tell and history will judge that STA had served the industry and the government well and earned itself a respectful association with recognition at both domestic and international levels."

In welcoming Adenan as the new chief minister, Wong hoped that the former would continue the immeasurable efforts of his predecessor to bring the state's timber industry to greater heights not only in the state and country, but also in the international arena.

"Needless to say, the timber industry is important and one of the cornerstones of the economy in the state. The timber industry, especially in the tropical region, is faced with many issues in the international market.

"It is by working closely together that we can resolve these issues for the benefit of the industry in the state and the country as a whole under the guidance of our new chief minister of Sarawak."

Print Friendly

State not likely to have additional checkpoints — Lian

Posted: 29 May 2014 12:20 PM PDT

KUCHING: Sarawak is not likely to see more checkpoints than the 31 existing ones throughout the state for inspection and clearance of visitors.

Director of State Immigration Department Datu Robert Lian said there was no plan to propose more checkpoints in the state, but the existing facilities and equipment would be enhanced to beef up security.

"I have not had any plan to add more checkpoints to the existing ones. Maybe we will upgrade the existing checkpoints and equipment.

"We will deploy people to places if need be," he said when met by journalists at a function in Petra Jaya here yesterday.

According to immigration laws, Robert said, any person entering a country must report to the Immigration Department.

"Facilities have been provided for anyone to enter the state to report to the department. We cannot be holding hands along the borders. We cannot catch everyone, they have to report."

To a question, Robert said official records showed some 158,000 foreigners had visited the state so far this year.

"That is the official figure. Unofficially, we do not know how many of them, be they visitors or workers."

Print Friendly