Large scale reforestation to ensure wood supply — CM

KOTA KINABALU: The state government has ordered large scale reforestation to ensure ample wood supply for Sabah in future, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

Shafie said the supply of wood is not “so ample” right now for the furniture industry that has been planned for the state’s furniture industry.

Therefore, steps have been taken to ensure the supply would be enough for the key furniture industry players that Sabah is trying to woo from the Peninsular.

“I know it is not so ample in terms of supply and that is why I have instructed those people and authorities responsible to make sure that they do effective, in a very large scale, reforestation. Plant wood species that we need,” he said.

Shafie added the state will plant a mixture of the long-term growing red seraya, meranti and current short-term growing eucalyptus and acacia species.

“We plant certain species. One, required by market, both high value and reasonably priced. We do not want to plant timber that is not affordable,” he explained after officiating the Sabah Job & Entrepreneur Fair 2018 at the Kota Kinabalu Sports Complex in Likas here yesterday.

The Chief Minister said the fair, organized by Youth and Women wings of Parti Warisan Sabah (Warisan) with the cooperation of Federal and Sabah governments and presented by Yayasan Sabah Group, provided more than 6,000 job opportunities to job seekers.

He added that 2,117 had applied for jobs online and 565 had secured jobs through the two-day fair, as of yesterday afternoon.

“This is in line with the promise to look for as many jobs as possible for our children. We do not only look but also at the state level try our level best to create jobs,” said Shafie, adding Sabah is sticking to creating jobs in the government focused sectors.

“We have found that the space and many opportunities provided here are not only from local companies but also those from the Peninsular,” said the Chief Minister.

However, he urged the people not to only focus on being employees but also job creators in various fields using the facilities provided by the ruling governments of today.

The Chief Minister also said the state government is intensifying efforts to attract more furniture manufacturers from Peninsular Malaysia to set up their branches in the state through a meeting with the industry players in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said this demonstrated Sabah’s commitment in strengthening the development of its timber sector in the stride to turn the state into an industrial state.

“Tomorrow (Monday) I will be meeting some furniture factory operators in the Peninsula, and we (the state) will ask experienced furniture manufacturers to open their branches in Sabah.

“This will create more jobs for Sabahans, especially in the downstream timber industry sector,” he said.

Shafie said the state government would play a role in supplying wood for furniture manufacturing, but priority would be given to furniture factories operating in the state.

This is to encourage more highquality furniture manufacturers to bring in their expertise, strong networks and market forays to the state, he said, adding that several areas in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park have been identified for furniture factories.

About 100 companies took part in the job fair. Also present Deputy Home Minister Datuk Mohd Azis Jamman who is also Warisan Youth chief.