The hunt is on in Malaysia for land that can be turned into timber plantations.
Datuk Ng Eng Sos, managing director of Syarikat Kayu Wangi Bhd (SKW), said it was vital for his company to have timber plantations to secure its long-term future.
Locations in Terengganu, Kelantan and Pahang have already been earmarked as possible sites.
Ng said many sawmills had been forced to close because there was no continuous supply of locally grown timber. “The timber related industry needs intervention from the government or else it will become a sunset industry in no time,” he said.
Ng called on the government to follow the example of Canada and North America where companies were encouraged to cultivate timber plantations and receive government grants and tax incentives.
And he said that while world demand for Malaysian hardwood remained strong, the country could not meet orders because of lack of supply.
