Putting foot down on log premiums
CM says state not bending to demands from timber firms, may tender out harvesting of logs
KUCHING: The state government may tender out the harvesting of logs from hill forests and logs of hill species from agri- conversion areas if big companies refuse to pay premium on them based on the new rate.
In stating this, Chief Minister Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg said the state government would not bow to demands f rom t imber companies to reconsider its decision to increase the chargeable premium on logs from RM0.80 to RM50 per cubic metre.
He said the premium of RM0.80 was introduced in 1986 and was never reviewed.
“The money we col le c t from this premium is for the Sarawak Education Fund so that it can send our scholars to Stamford University, Cambridge University and other renowned universities.
“It was never reviewed since 1986. When we review a bit, ‘ taukey balak’ (timber tycoons) make noise. They have made money but they don’t want to go for research,” he stated at the closing of the Parliamentarian Seminar here yesterday.
He said if the timber companies had carried out the research on trees, they would be using
Now, if you don’t want to pay based on the new premium then we tender it out, we ask other people to do. That’s it because we have no interest in it. Datuk Amar Abang Johari Tun Openg, Chief Minister
industrial forest to feed their mills now.
“But there is no research. Our timber companies promised only. They were given money for research, but they did not do it.
“That’s why I’m angry. They promised to do research since I was with the Ministry of Industrial Development ( MID) before. Now I’m the Chief Minister and it’s still the same.
“Since I was in MID before they were supposed to do research on trees. Now, give me, where is your planted forest? They are still like that,” he pointed out.
Abang Johari said if the timber companies had no wood for their mills, they should start with the industrial forests from now because the state government would not allow the cutting of natural forests anymore as it wanted to protect their trees.
“People may ask if we don’t cut our trees how would I get the funds to implement projects in the state.
“That was before, but not now. We can find other ways to get funds, not necessarily from timber.
“Now, if you don’t want to pay based on the new premium then we tender it out, we ask other people to do. That’s it because we have no interest in it,” he said.
Meanwhile, a circular dated Apr 12 issued by Forestry Department director Sapuan Ahmad stated that the chargeable premium for hill timber log has been increased from RM0.80 to RM50 per cubic metre.
The circular entitled ‘ New Rate of Hill Timber Premium ( Sarawak Foundation Fund)’ stated that ‘ Chief Minister/ Minister of Resource Planning and Environment in accordance with Section 46 (1) of the Forest Ordinance, 2015, has approved the increase in rate of Hill Timber Premium, that is premium chargeable on all species of logs harvested from hill forests and logs of hill species from agriconversion areas’.
The current rate of Hill Timber Premium for all hi l l logs is RM0.80 per cubic metre and logs of hill species from agriconversion areas is RM3 per cubic metre.