THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT: Taib receives a mock cheque from Konica Minolta Business Solutions (M) Sdn Bhd managing director Yoshihisa Ishibashi (left) as SFC chairman Datu Dr Yusoff Hanifah (right) and other guests look on. — Photo by Jeffery Mostapa
KUCHING: Foreigners may soon be allowed in to develop planted forests to help the state realise its target of producing 15 million cubic metres of timber annually by 2020.
Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud described the present annual production of 9.2 million cubic metres of timber as ‘stagnant’ and stressed that something needed to be done about it before the state’s timber industry was hampered.
Speaking at the 8th anniversary dinner of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) here on Friday, the chief minister said the strategy of transforming 20 per cent of forest area into planted forests was not only crucial to more than double the yield of timber but also to ensure a more sustainable timber production.
“It (planted forests) seems to start quite well and I believe that we can achieve 15 million cubic metres of timber production by 2020.
“The only difference is whether it is going to be done entirely by the local industrialists or by the open approach … which will allow people at the international level to come in and participate in the development of our planted forest,” he said.
Taib, who is also Resource Planning and Environment Minister, said as the state had embarked on producing more cheap electricity by 2030, it would also be good to develop the mechanical pulp industry in the state.
“Therefore, we have more reasons to ensure that our planted forest programme is implemented successfully,” he said.
The state aims to establish one million hectares of planted forest by 2020, but it is believed that thus far it had only crawled to the 30 per cent mark.
On another matter, Taib urged SFC’s staff to continually upgrade their knowledge and skills in order to assist the local industry players to better position themselves in the global market.
“I think Sarawak (industry players) should think in terms of high quality, more sophisticated products, better designs and good combination of timber from other parts of the world. That is what you all have as your ambition,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, SFC Sdn Bhd chairman Datu Dr Yusoff Hanifah said it was gratifying to have members of the public voluntarily surrendering captured protected and totally protected wildlife for rehabilitation, and later released to their natural habitat.
Describing 2011 as a productive year, he said SFC products had been accepted internationally, especially in Singapore and Japan.
“Our orangutan and turtle adoption conservation programmes have received contributions and participation from individuals and corporations from all over the world,” he enthused. This year, Konica Minolta Business Solutions (M) Sdn Bhd adopted Endu from Semenggoh Wildlife Centre for two years at a cost of RM20,000.
To date, Yusoff said SFC had collected RM644,800 from the corporate sector for the adoption of orangutans.
He was glad that the ‘Orangutan Donation Drive’ for schools had received tremendous response from both public and private schools in the state. The campaign is aimed at promoting awareness on orangutan conservation among the younger generation, he said, adding that SFC received RM18,348.09 from schools in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. SMK Chung Hua Miri raised RM2,649.40 to emerge as champion for the Orangutan Donation Drive for schools while first runner-up SMK Sibu Jaya collected RM1,438.60 and second runner-up SMK Sacred Hearts, Sibu, garnered RM1,345.25.
Marking SFC’s 8th anniversary, Taib launched an information booklet titled ‘Legality Verifications of Logs in Sarawak’.
Published by the Ministry of Resource Planning and Environment in collaboration with Forest Department, SFC, Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation and Harwood Timber Sdn Bhd, the booklet explains the tracking and traceability of log movements along the chain of custody from the forest to the mill or export point. The prescribed verification activities are based on the Inter-Agency Standard Operating Procedures for Performance of Forestry Function that has been adopted in 2010 by the then Ministry of Planning and Resource Management.
Also present were Assistant Minister of Resource Planning Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais, Assistant Minister of Public Health Dr Jerip Susil and the newly appointed SFC managing director and chief executive officer Ali Yusop.