Awang Tengah (seated, centre) joins other dignitaries and participants for a photo call. Also seen are Len Talif (seated third left) and Wan Lizozman (seated third right). — Photo by Muhd Rais Sanusi
KUCHING: Timber industry players in the state are assured that the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government will not ‘kill the goose that lays the golden egg’.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said towards achieving this, he hoped the timber industry players would continue to work hand in hand with the state government to strengthen forest management, enhance environmental protection and accelerate the development of the timber-based industries to a higher level.
Speaking at the closing of Stakeholders Consultation on the Proposed Forestry Policies at a leading hotel here yesterday, he said the state government welcomes suggestions from the stakeholders.
“If it is reasonable, we will consider and incorporate them in our policy because we have the common agenda and objectives. But we need to have balanced policies so as to create conducive ecosystem to enhance the timber industry.
“Don’t expect 100 per cent that what you requested will be adopted. You must strike a balance … We need to ensure timber industry remains relevant and benefits all the stakeholders,” he said.
On another matter, he said the timeframe for Sarawak to achieve one million hectares planted forest has been revised from 2020 to 2025.
He said the progress has not been encouraging with only 420,146 hectares planted to date.
“In view of that, the timeline to achieve the target of one million hectares has to be reset to the year 2025 which is six years from now.
“Hopefully, all the industrial forest plantation players will respond positively to achieve this target within the revised timeframe,” he said.
He pointed out the state government has embarked on the industrial forest plantation to ensure that the state’s timber industry will have adequate supply of raw material for years to come.
For that purpose, he said the state government had issued 43 licences for industrial forest plantation with a total gross area of 2.5 million hectares since 1997.
“To facilitate the development of industrial forest plantation, the government has also stepped up R&D programmes to address the shortage of high-quality planting materials, tree-species matching, pest and disease control, silviculture, product development, to identify fast growing species as well as indigenous species.
“In addition to the R&D programmes being carried out by the government institutions, this initiative is also being carried out by LPF (Licence for Planted Forests) holders.
“I would like to call on all stakeholders to synergise by collaborating on the R&D programmes and information sharing to optimise the applications of the research findings,” he said.
With the expected increase in production of logs from industrial forest plantation in years to come, he said it is necessary for the industry to realign and retool their manufacturing facilities to process logs from industrial forest plantation.
Apart from that, the industry can capitalise on digital technology to conduct business transactions, product promotions, networking and data management which could reduce cost of doing business and enhance competitiveness, he added.
Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources, said the Sarawak government will continue the policy of allowing importation of log species not available locally in order to enhance the value of the products for export market.
He explained such policy shall continue unless the majority of the timber players are not in favour with it.
“But I see all of you will agree with the policy and the government will continue this policy,” he said.
He also said the Log Reservation Quota was introduced in 1988 to ensure adequate supply of logs for the local primary and secondary processing industry.
Initially, only 10 per cent of the log production was allocated for local processing but subsequently for the last 30 years, the percentage for local processing has been progressively increased and now to 80 per cent.
“This percentage may be reviewed further in meeting the needs of the local industry. This policy has been successful in spurring the growth of the primary and secondary timber processing industry, making Sarawak the largest producer and exporter of tropical plywood in the region,” he said.
He nonetheless noted that while Sarawak has been successful in developing the primary and the secondary industry, the state still has a long way in developing the tertiary and value-added industry.
“Currently, only two per cent of the export value comes from tertiary and value-added products.
“In the future, we need to increase this percentage. To achieve this, inputs from the stakeholders and the industry players are required,” he said.
He said the inputs from this two-day consultation will form part of the overall inputs in developing a comprehensive and holistic roadmap or masterplan to achieve sustainable downstream industries in the stat.
He also said follow-up workshops should be carried out involving all the agencies and the industry players.
“This is so that the government can come up with more comprehensive, realistic, holistic policies and action plans.”
Also present were Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh and the ministry’s permanent secretary Datu Dr Wan Lizozman Wan Omar.
The participants listen to a speech.