Malaysia calls on PNG govt to get tough on logging

Malaysia calls on PNG government to get tough on the logging industry

The Chair of the Malaysian Timber Certification Council has recommended the PNG government take tough action in dealing with the Malaysian logging industry.

“If they (Malaysian logging companies) don’t comply with the legislation and regulations it is entirely up to the PNG government to deal with them. If it means confiscating their machines, do so, or throw them out” said Dato, Dr Freezailah bin Che Yeom.

Dr Freezailah, a former Executive Director of the International Tropical Timber Organisation and an internationally recognised expert of the logging industry, was speaking at the international Asia Forestry Partnership Conference in Indonesia last week.

“Malaysia as a country cannot be blamed for all the problems of poor logging and illegal logging related activities in other countries. It is the responsibility of the respective countries where Malaysian companies operate to take action within the confines of their local laws” said Dr Freezailah.

Dr Freezailah was responding to comments from the Chair of the Eco-Forestry Forum, Kenn Mondiai, about the results of the government’s latest review of the logging industry.

The review has found widespread abuses in the logging industry with unlawful permits and illegal logging, gross environmental damage, labour abuses and a total lack of government enforcement of laws and regulations.

The Asia Forestry Partnership (AFP) is an open voluntary forum where key players in the region from government, the private sector and NGOs share ideas and lessons to coordinate and develop collective actions plans to address the issues confronting the region and the global forestry sector.

This year the Conference was dominated by the topic of illegal logging and the international trade in illegally sourced timber.

PNG Eco-Forestry Forum

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