Taib receives the STA Golden Member Medal from Wong (fourth left) while Adenan (right) and Jabu (left) and others applaud. — Photo by Kong Jun Liung
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.”