A GOVERNMENT backbencher believes the Sarawak Biodiversity Centre (Amendment) Bill 2014 will strengthen laws relating to the state’s biological resources.
Abu Seman Jahwie (BN-Jemoreng) noted that the amendment was done in accordance with the intention of the principal ordinance, which is to protect the state’s biological resources.
“Through the years, researchers have discovered a diverse range of vegetation type and the rich flora and fauna.
“With such discovery and development, there is a need to expand the definition of biological resources,” he said yesterday when debating the Bill, which was tabled by Second Resource Planning and Environment Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan earlier.
Abu Seman, who is also a political secretary to the chief minister, said the amendment would ensure that the conservation of biodiversity of the state’s resources, control of trading of protected species and the protection of rare species from extinction or mishandled without permission were up to the mark.
Telang Usang assemblyman Dennis Ngau, in his debate on the same Bill, described the tabling of the Bill as very timely as it would safeguard the state’s rich biological resources and traditional knowledge, which is of great value and come with huge business potential.
As someone born and raised in a settlement located deep in the jungles of Borneo, Ngau believed the forests do have great potential to cure illnesses.
“I still have knowledge about some plants or trees that could be used for curing sickness like stomach ache. Furthermore, a certain plant bark could be used as mosquito repellent and it is even more effective in certain areas compared to the ones we bought from the supermarket.”
Ngau said if these could be explored further by companies, it would also become a good source of income for the state and local communities.
“So, in this connection, we must start to do something now by putting certain law in place to protect our knowledge in order to safeguard what we have.”
He also urged the authorities concerned to hold activities to educate the rural communities as the law alone might not guarantee the safeguarding of their rights.
“The other interesting aspect of the Bill is the government’s plan to develop the Biodiversity Trust Fund, where funds can be requested by participating communities for the development of their villages.
“Speaking in support of the Bill on behalf of our rural communities, we want the rights of the local communities and state to be protected through the introduction of this ordinance as it will benefit us as we live in a potential research area.”