If Malaysian logging companies do not comply with legislation and regulations in countries in which they operate, they should have their machinery confiscated or be thrown out according to Malaysia timber expert Dr Freezailah bin Che Yeom.
A former executive director of the International Tropical Timber Organisation, Dr Che Yeom spoke out at the International Asia Forestry Partnership conference in Indonesia in response to the findings of an inter-agency forestry review team which investigated 15 logging projects in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The review claims to have uncovered widespread abuses in the logging industry including unlawful permits and illegal logging, environmental damage, labour abuses and a lack of government enforcement of laws and regulations.
Dr Che Yeom said if Malaysian logging companies were found not to be complying with regulations, the PNG government should deal with them.
He added: “Malaysia as a country cannot be blamed for all the problems of poor logging and illegal logging related activities in other countries”, he said. “It is the responsibility of the respective countries where Malaysia companies operate to take action within the confines of their local laws.”
The Asia Forestry Partnership is an open voluntary forum where representatives from government, the private sector and NGOs share ideas to co-ordinate and develop collective action plans.
