In the article “Call for EU pressure” Indonesia’s minister of forestry Muhammad Prakosa was reported to be calling on the EU to reject Malaysian timber products suspected of containing illegally cut Indonesian wood. One wonders what the minister is trying to achieve by making such unsubstantiated and misleading statements. While Minister Prakosa has in the past accused Malaysia, Singapore and China of using illegal logs, he is calling for the EU to only reject Malaysian timber products. He has also neglected to ask the EU to also reject Indonesian timber products that are suspected of containing illegal Indonesian wood.
Malaysia has done its best to assist Indonesia by banning imports of Indonesian round and “squared” logs and has stepped up enforcement. Malaysia has also repeatedly asked the Indonesian government to set a date for the bilateral Malaysia-Indonesia Joint Working Group on Forestry for more than four years but the Indonesian government has been unable to respond positively. The Malaysian Ministry of Primary Industries has also been trying to meet the Indonesian minister of forestry but its requests have been turned down. Contrary to what Minister Prakosa said, the Malaysian government has never received official notice of any previous plans by the minister to visit Malaysia. Malaysia is always prepared to work with Indonesia but it needs Indonesia to put aside rhetoric and to set a date for constructive discussions.
Malaysia has sufficient wood resources of its own. It has also successfully controlled illegal logging within its own boundaries and has implemented an independent certification scheme. Malaysia is prepared to co-operate with the EU on its Action Plan for Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade and is confident that it can meet the EU’s requirements for legal and sustainable timber products.
Indonesia and Malaysia are members of ASEAN and ITTO and it is in the mutual interests of both countries to discuss any outstanding issues and co-operate in eradicating the problem of the trade in illegal logs. Instead of putting the blame on others, it will be more productive for Indonesia to seek a solution in collaboration with its fellow ASEAN members and to focus its efforts on strengthening its own enforcement measures and resolving other problems within its own territory which will help to eliminate illegal logging.
