Council: Ramin claims exaggerated

6 February 2004

Council: Ramin claims exaggerated

BY TAN KAH PENG

LONDON: The Malaysian Timber Council (MTC) here has denied accusations that the country is at the centre of an illegal trade in Indonesian ramin, describing the allegations as “grossly exaggerated.”

Responding to allegations contained in a report by the Washington-based Environmental Investigation Agency and Telepak, an Indonesian group, MTC director S.K. Tham told The Star:

“We can’t deny that some smuggling goes on.

“But we are trying our best to stop it. The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) should recognise that we are making some progress. The allegations are grossly exaggerated,” he said.

Tham said the authorities had cracked down on ramin smuggled in log form through Johor jetties such as in Muar.

He said the smugglers then switched tactics by using containers to bring in sawn ramin for transshipment to third countries.

Ramin is a highly prized tropical hardwood used mainly in nursery furniture and pool cues for markets in Japan, the European Union and the US and this prompted the NGOs to call for closer scrutiny of Malaysian and Chinese re-exports.

“Ramin is not a major timber export item for Malaysia and our exports are all governed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species,” said Tham.