Sabah re-activates committee on illegal logging crackdown

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah new government has decided to re-activate the State Committee on Illegal Logging Crackdown at the Chief Minister's Department in accordance with provisions under the Forestry Enactment 1968.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said the move was to further strengthen the implementation and enforcement of laws to protect the state's forestry resources from being exploited.
"In this regard, the state government urged all logging companies operating in the state to comply with the conditions of the logging licence, provisions in the Forestry Enactment 1968 and the Forest Rules 1969," he said in a statement today.
Mohd Shafie said the concern raised by the new government under his leadership over several forestry issues, including illegal logging, did not mean that there was widespread illegal logging activities in the state.
Instead, he said, it showed the state government's concern about illegal logging, leakage and other forestry crimes that could still happen in Sabah.
"This issue is also often voiced by the people because the forest is a very important and valuable natural resource for the state.
"It not only contributes to revenue collection and job opportunities but is also vital as a habitat for wildlife such as elephants and orangutans, and also for its aesthetic value as a tourist attraction," he added.
Therefore, Mohd Shafie said it was necessary to take proactive measures to further improve the efforts by the government for a more holistic, effective and comprehensive forestry management. — Bernama