Work with state govt to develop timber industry — Adenan <b>...</b> Berita Sarawak - News 2 Sarawak |
| Work with state govt to develop timber industry — Adenan <b>...</b> 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.   |
| SEB chief says Penans 'barking up the wrong tree' – BorneoPost <b>...</b> Posted: 28 May 2014 12:39 PM PDT by Lian Cheng, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on May 29, 2014, Thursday KUCHING: Sarawak Energy Berhad (SEB) cannot meddle with the arrangement that had been agreed to between the state government and the Penans affected by the Murum hydroelectric dam project. If changes had to be made, it had to be done though discussions between the state government Hence, the Penan community were 'barking up the wrong tree' when they lodged a report against SEB for any dissatisfaction , he said. Sjotveit said he was disappointed that some Penans had lodged a police report against SEB for allegedly short-changing them in their monthly food allowance. It was understood that under an arrangement, each affected Penan household would get a monthly allowance of RM850, comprising RM250 in cash and the rest in kind, especially foodstuff. "How to give them the monthly allowance? It was agreed to between the state government and the Penan community, and SEB is only helping the District Office implement it," Torstein told The Borneo Post yesterday. Torstein said he believed there was no foul play involved, but he would still look into the matter, just to be sure. In any case, he said he had full confidence in his staff who had been entrusted to procure foodstuff for the Penans. "I am very sure SEB is not cheating them. I have been told by my staff that some Penans have wanted the monthly allowance of RM850 to be paid in cash rather than the pre-arrangement of partly in kind and partly in cash. "That has been the key question, and that could be why they filed the police report." Torstein opined that for the Penans to lodge a police report to express their discontent was not proper. "We have been glad to help because that has been a very important part of our work. We have done so much for them. For the Penans to lodge a report against us like that is not helpful at all." He believed the right way would be to pick their own spokespersons and sit down with the state government. Meanwhile, according to Belaga police station, four Penan leaders – Madai Salo of Long Luar, Ramlie Bujang of Long Tangau, Ngang Buling of Long Singu and Liew Bueh of Long Menapa – lodged the police report against SEB at 10 am yesterday. They claimed the power company had short-changed them in the supply of RM600 worth of foodstuff. They also claimed there were times where the value of the food brought to them did not even come up to RM600. The four told police they preferred to be paid RM850 in cash. Among the arrangements between the state government and the 353 affected Penan households from seven villages due to the dam project was giving each household a relocation assistance of M15,000, RM850 allowance per month, 15 hectares of cash-crop plantation, and free housing. The state government claimed to have spent an average of RM1.2 million per household at the Murum and Tegulang resettlement areas for their amenities, including housing and agriculture schemes. |
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