MoU on environmental compliance audit inked
This MoU hereby demonstrates the readiness of the industry to face the challenges that lie ahead of them. Datu Len Talif Salleh, Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment
KUCHING: A Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) for a ‘ Pilot Project on Environmental Compliance Audit’ was signed between Natural Resources and Environment Board ( NREB), Sarawak Timber Association ( STA) and its eight member companies yesterday.
The MoU, to carry out strategic collaboration to conduct a pilot project on environmental compliance audit in their areas, will also include the submission of audit finding reports to the NREB.
“This MoU hereby demonstrates the readiness of the industry to face the challenges that lie ahead of them,” said Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh who represented Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg at the signing of the MoU here yesterday.
Reading from Abang Johari’s text, Len said the pilot project would mark another milestone in the area of environmental conservation and protection in Sarawak.
The initiative undertaken by NREB in implementing the environmental audit would bring a new dimension to the forestry and timber industry, migrating from the conventional regulatory requirement towards self-regulation.
The state government, he added, has set a target of at least seven concession areas to be accredited under Sustainable Forest Management Certification scheme by 2017. Compliance with the state environmental rules and regulation is prerequisite for any companies that wish to be certified under the Malaysian Criteria and Indicators for Forest management Certification ( Natural Forest) or [ MC& I ( Natural Forest)]
Abang Johari also congratulated NREB for taking a strategic approach to continuously improve its service delivery as mandated under the state’s Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance, 1993.
“As a responsible environmental agency of the state government, it is NREB’s responsibility to ensure that the implementation of any planned socio- economic developments and projects are carried out in a judicious and sustainable manner.”
The state government, he added, must recognise the fact that any development activity would, in one way or another, have certain impact on the surrounding ecosystems, such as water, air and sociocultural environment.
It is for this very reason the state government has taken a bold step to formulate its own environmental law, the ‘ Natural Resources and Environment Ordinance in1993’ and thereafter established the NREB on Feb 15, 1994.
“The enactment of this environmental law, allows the state to regulate development activities and to ensure more accountability amongst project proponents and developers toward the long-term objective of protecting the environment and ensuring a sustainable development,” he added.
To facilitate the implementation of this environmental law, the state has also enacted various subsidiary environmental rules and regulation, among others, the requirement for development activities to conduct an environmental impact assessment ( EIA) for any development activities prescribed under the Natural Resources and Environment ( Prescribed Activities) Order, 1997.
STA member companies that signed the MoU were Daiken Sarawak Sdn Bhd ( forest plantation), GP Pusaka Sdn Bhd ( forest plantation), Interglobe Empire Sdn Bhd (natural forest), Jaya Tiasa Holdings Berhad (natural forest), Ravencourt Sdn Bhd (natural forest), Shin Yang Forestry Sdn Bhd (forest plantation), Subur Tiasa Holdings Berhad (natural forest), and Tanjong Manis Holdings Sdn Bhd (natural forest).
Signing on behalf of NREB was its controller Peter Sawal while STA was represented by its honorary secretary Dato Henry Lau Lee Kong.
Witnessing the MoU signing were Len, Deputy Minister of Energy, Green Technology and Water Datuk Seri Dr James Dawos and Kuching North City Commission Datuk Bandar Datuk Abang Wahap Abang Julai.
Also held was a seminar on ‘ Environmental Management in the Forestry Sector’ that was attended by some 300 delegates.
“I reckon these events will achieve the objectives to further improve the management of our resources and to achieve a vision of Clean, Green and Healthy Sarawak,” said Abang Johari.