Ministry proposes compilation of single forest policy

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Dr Xavier (third left) shakes hands with Abang Johari during a group photo session. With them are (from left) Zurinah, Zulpuri, Uggah, Dr Sim and Sharifah Hasidah. — Photo by Muhammad Rais Sanusi

KUCHING: The Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources has proposed for forest policies from Sarawak, Sabah and Peninsular Malaysia to be compiled under the Malaysian Forestry Policy (DPM), which is an initiative to develop an integrated policy on forestry covering the three regions.

Its minister Dr Xavier Jayakumar said the move is to enable the ministry to present the country’s forest policies together particularly when on overseas missions.

“Sarawak has its own forest policy, and so does Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah. What I’ve requested is that as one country, we should have the three forest policies compiled into one document to enable us to present them together especially when we are on missions in other countries,” he told a press conference here yesterday.

Dr Xavier, who earlier paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at Wisma Bapa Malaysia here, stressed that the suggestion did not mean that the ministry was proposing for Sarawak’s forest policy to be amended.

“We are not touching the contents of the policy because forest is a state matter and the federal government does not have any right (to amend it),” he said, adding that the drafting of the DPM was still in the early stages and required discussion from all three parties.

On whether Abang Johari had agreed to the proposal, he said the chief minister will get back to him on the matter.

During the courtesy call, Dr Xavier discussed several matters concerning the management of water, land and natural resources in Sarawak including the collaboration between the Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources, Sarawak Forest Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation in the acquisition of an aircraft and system for the development of a Turnkey Hyperspectral Observation System to protect forests and wildlife in the country.

“The ministry through the Department of Survey and Mapping Malaysia is also committed to protecting the country’s border with an allocation of RM4 million a year for the survey of Malaysia’s international land boundary in Sarawak with Brunei.

“Priority is also given to solving the four Outstanding Boundary Problem in Sarawak, namely at D400, Gunung Raya, Gunung Jagoi and Batu Aum,” he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Law, State-Federal Relations and Project Monitoring) Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali, Water, Land and Natural Resources Deputy Minister Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji, and Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources secretary-general Datuk Zurinah Pawanteh were present during the courtesy call.