Ban on round logs export to remain, says Shafie

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said no exception will be made on the state government’s decision to temporarily ban the export of round logs until certain issues are settled.

Saying that “what must be done has to be done immediately”, Mohd Shafie quipped that he would not entertain lobbying from any quarters and the decision to impose the ban on logs was endorsed at the sate Cabinet meeting on Monday.

“There are serious decisions to be made concerning the logging industry in Sabah and I have to put my foot down in the best interest of the people. I realise that its a tough decision to make but it has to be done.

As a matter of fact, it should have been implemented a long time ago.

“The ban could be temporary or it could be long-term, and the matter will be studied thoroughly.

I am all for our logs to be processed locally so that legal sawmills can operate and provide sawn timber and other value- added products, creating more job opportunities,” he said in a statement on Tuesday.

The chief minister said the Sabah Forestry Department would be directed to inform all players, concessionaires, as well as, operators of Forest Management Units (FMUs) to comply with the Cabinet’s decision with immediate effect.

On Monday, the chief minister ordered the Yayasan Sabah Group’s Forestry Division to undertake a comprehensive review of its operations after it was disclosed that ‘exclusive operators’ held a monopoly and took the bulk of the profits. — Bernama