STIDC, SFD sign MoU on monitoring of timber removal at ICQS Merapok-Sindumin
KOTA KINABALU: The Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and the Sabah Forestry Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the handling of logs and timber products removals at Immigration Customs Quarantine Security Checkpoints (ICQS), Merapok/Sindumin, or in short MERSIN, on November 23.
The signing ceremony was sealed by Datu Sarudu Hj Hoklai, the General Manager of STIDC, and Datuk Sam Mannan, the Chief Conservator of Forests, on behalf of the Sabah State Government.
The collaborative project is one of Sarawak's approved Key Focus Activities (KFA), and STIDC's first project to involve other agencies from outside Sarawak.
The collaboration amongst others will:
i) Standardize the inspection process of logs and timber products crossing the Sarawak/Sabah border overland at the ICQS Merapok/ Sindumin and vice-versa.
ii) Strengthen the monitoring, control and enforcement of trade relating to log and timber products passing through the ICQS.
iii) Strengthen the collection and recording of imports and exports data of logs and timber products.
iv) Establish a good working relationship between the two agencies and other relevant enforcement agencies at the ICQS.
The main output from the collaborative project is the Guideline for Removal of Logs and Timber Products at ICQS Merapok-Sindumin [MERSIN] 2017 for the use of both agencies.
The collaborative project will improve removal of timber products documentations which is vital to facilitate timber tracking and Chain of Custody requirements to ascertain timber legality.