Salcra general manager Datu Vasco Sabat Singkang (second left) presenting the mock cheque to Sarawak Forestry chief executive officer Wong Ting Chung.
Ministry of Planning and Resource Management’s Permanent Secretary Datu Sudarsono Osman (second left) presenting the mock cheque to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre park manager Chong Jiew Han. Adenan is at fifth left.
Sudarsono (left) presenting the mock cheque to winner of the ‘Outstanding National Park Guide’ award Azhar Nor Mostapha Nor (third right). Yusoff is on Adenan’s right.
Sudarsono (second left) presenting the mock cheque to winner of the ‘Outstanding Honorary Wild Life Ranger’ award Lipik Sarau
(fourth right). — Photos by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Staff of Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) has been told to live up to the expectations of Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem by continuing to keep illegal logging at bay and to enhance sustainable forest management.
“You better watch out to make sure you stay on top to win the hearts and minds of our stakeholders and those of the general public,” said SFC chairman Datu Dr Yusoff Hanifah during the corporation’s 12th anniversary dinner here last night.
He conceded that officers of SFC had been in “deep slumber” before Adenan Satem’s repeated warnings.
In recalling the first meeting with Adenan, Yusoff said many SFC officers thought Adenan was being humorous, and they laughed at his quips and sharp wit as though the chief minister was a stand up comedian.
“But the chief minister’s forthright and very direct scolding ‘Ada mata buta; ada telinga tulik; ada mulut bisuk!’ made the officers uncomfortable. He did not mince his words. He called a spade a spade. He meant business. Time and again, we are told not to mess with him.
“There were some officers who found it hard to accept his scolding at first, but as the chief minister’s message sunk in, they began to admit the stark reality that all this while SFC was inefficient, ineffective, and some officers were corrupt.”
Yusoff admitted that SFC had become idle and complacent as a result of being poorly managed by incompetent corporate leaders the last few years.
Adenan’s warnings, he said, had done a world of good for SFC and now things had changed for the better.
“Since the wake-up call, the working atmosphere in SFC has improved tremendously. SFC, under chief executive officer Wong Ting Chung, is doing its best to be efficient, honest and trustworthy.
“It (wake-up call) has buckled up the team to improve its enforcement and conservation effort,” he said, adding that Adenan had given high marks to the corporation in areas of enforcement compliance, revenue collection and forest biodiversity conservation.
Yusoff disclosed that the corporation would start with 24 One Stop Compliance Centres (OSCC) throughout the state with its phased deployment in 2016 following the satisfactory outcome of the four OSCC trial in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri between April and June this year.
He said SFC would also use satellite technology, drone technology and other modern scientific inventions for surveillance purposes with the ultimate aim of eliminating illegal logging.
As a training provider in forest industry under the Forest (Trained Workmen) Rules, he said SFC was in the midst of discussion with Sarawak Timber Association to develop a mechanism for collaboration in forestry industry training to ensure positive results.
“In addition, the renovation and refurbishment works of Samarakan Training Centre in Bintulu have been completed. The centre can accommodate up to 120 participants and house 96 occupants respectively.”
Yusoff also divulged that the corporation aimed to recruit more participants for the Research for Intensified Management of Bio-rich Areas (Rimba) Sarawak project.
“We are currently in discussion with Singapore Botanical Gardens, California Academy of Sciences and Louisiana State Museum of Vertebrate Zoology on the prospect of joining us in this scientific research.
“Once agreement is achieved with these institutions, we will welcome another three world renowned institutions into Rimba Sarawak.”
Meanwhile, the Sarawak Chief Minister’s Awards 2014/2015 — Best Managed Totally Protected Area went to Semenggoh Wildlife Centre, Outstanding National Park Guide — Azhar Nor Mostapha Nor, and Outstanding Honorary Wild Life Ranger — Lipik Sarau.