No more 'timber politics' in Sarawak - Abang Johari

 

Sarawak, which previously depended on timber exports as a source of income till the term “timber politics” was coined, has now stepped forward into a new era that prioritises forest restoration.

Sarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg said forest restoration will generate new income for the state, especially in the global carbon market.

“Our income used to depend on timber, that’s why the politics then were ‘timber politics’. Now we have changed, we don’t rely on timber, we rely on brainpower,” he said during his speech at the 2024 Sarawak-level International Forest Day celebrations at the Sabal Agro-Forestry Centre today.

He added that the Sarawak government had successfully reduced logging in the state by about two million cubic metres annually thanks to the policy of complying with forest management certification conditions for both natural and plantation forests.

“I want the (timber) industry (players) to know why we reduce exports of logs, why we discourage the cutting of logs, because now we have alternatives to (develop) our economy,” he said.

Abang Johari said policies implemented by the Sarawak government enabled them to retain around 62 percent forest cover in the state and currently has 26 certified forest management units encompassing 2.38 million hectares and seven plantation forest management units encompassing 97,966ha.

He also expressed his appreciation to the Sarawak Forestry Department for achieving successes not only in forest conservation but in providing added value and new approaches to balance development and environmental conservation.

Abang Johari then agreed with the proposal of the department’s director, Hamden Mohamad, to develop the Sabal Agro-Forestry Centre as a multipurpose centre, especially for forest research, recreation, and tourism activities.

The development of the centre at an estimated cost of RM50 million could make it another attraction for visitors to the Serian district when it is completed as a department project under the 13th Malaysia Plan, the premier added.

- Bernama