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 29 September 2003
Rafidah: Tackle Illegal Logging Issue At Source
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Malaysia does
not welcome illegal logging and such activities should be stamped at the source
country itself, the minister of international trade and industry (MITI) Datuk
Seri Rafidah Aziz, said Monday.
"Once you stop it (illegal logging), then it won't come here," she
said when asked on Malaysia's role on the issue at a question and answer session
between MITI and the National Resilience Institute (LEMHANAS) of Indonesia.
Eighteen delegates from LEMHANAS are here on a six-day study visit.
Rafidah said Malaysia did not welcome illegal logging because developed
countries did not accept furniture produced from illegally logged timber.
"European countries now ask for certificates which indicate that the logs
which are used for making furniture had been felled using methods that adhered
to sustainable froest development (Negara-negara di Eropah hendak certificate
yang menyatakan bahawa log yang menjadi asal kepada perabot itu telah ditebang
dengan cara yang diizinkan iaitu mengikut cara sustainable forest
development)," she said.
Rafidah hoped that provincial governments in Indonesia should keep an eye on
illegal logging as it was impossible for the Indonesian central government to
monitor such activities alone at the common border between Malaysia and
Indonesia.
To date, she said Malaysia had taken various steps to stop illegally cut
Indonesian timber from being brought into the country. These include imposing a
ban on the importation of logs from Indonesia (from June last year) and
importation of squared logs which are sawn timber more than 60 sq inches in size
from Indonesia (from July this year).
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