Sabah Forestry Dept refutes claims on helicopter logging

Department director Sam Mannan responds to Warisan's claims that Sabah government entered into a lopsided logging deal and addresses environmental concerns raised by the opposition party.

PETALING JAYA: The Sabah Forestry Department has responded to allegations of helicopter logging in a forest reserve in the state, after Parti Warisan Sabah lodged a report on the matter with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

In a statement, the department’s director Sam Mannan said the world-famous Maliau Basin, where the forest reserve is located, was safe, with measures put in place to protect the environment.

This was after Warisan vice-president Junz Wong raised several issues regarding helicopter logging in the forest reserve, particularly its environmental impact, as well as claims that the state had entered into a lopsided deal with the concession holder.

Why allow logging?

Sam said helicopter logging was first carried out in 2004, subject to strict technical requirements. Only two licences were given by the state to allow logging above 25 degrees. These were issued to Yayasan Sabah and its subsidiary Benta Wawasan.

But the Sabah government’s move to turn forests with high conservation value into totally protected areas (TPAs) saw 75% (750,000 ha) of the original concession area turned into TPAs.

“In the final analysis, it was found that the residual forests that could still be logged today through helicopter logging, has been reduced to 15,000 ha.”

Sam said the move to better protect the environment affected the main timber company’s cash flow. The company, which is also a subsidiary of Yayasan Sabah, later appealed to the government to be allowed to harvest the 15,0000 ha on a “one-off basis”.

“Based on the merits of the case, both technically and environmentally, this was agreed on.”

Prices subject to review

On the claim that the state had entered into a lopsided deal, Sam said there was an automatic price escalation of 10% every year, as well as provisions in the agreement to allow changes subject to mutual consent.

Wong had claimed that the company allowed to carry out the helicopter logging was given a lucrative deal, needing only to pay Yayasan Sabah RM65 per cubic metre.

He said this meant the company would only need to pay Yayasan Sabah a total of RM1.65 million, while it stood to make RM27.75 million from the sale of the logs.

Sam said at the time the deal was negotiated, prices of timber weren’t as good as they are today, and there was no helicopter logging operator around.

So, he said, there were no “real-world prices or costs” on which to base the calculations for the agreement.

“It is believed that Yayasan Sabah will allow harvesting first, during which time, current real-world sales figures will be collected. Only then will prices be reviewed.”

Sam added that the timber company is paying a conservation fee of RM10 per cubic metre for forest restoration.

Environment protected

Sam said the Maliau Basin was safe and that any use of old roads and helicopter landings in buffer zones in the area was subject to the strict conditions of the Maliau Basin Management Committee.

He said measures like comprehensive harvest plans, reduced impact logging and helicopter logging itself reduced damage caused by logging activities and ensured improved forest regeneration.

“The Sabah government also insists on the use of the best helicopter operator in the world to avoid accidents due to the highly dangerous operations and for efficiency in production, while being environmentally responsible.

“To ensure transparency, an independent international auditor, GFS, has also been engaged by the Sabah government at high cost of RM3 million a year since 2009 to audit all logging operations to ensure transparency.

“Any infringements will be detected early for rectification or punitive actions,” he said. - FMT