Protecting Its Reputation

WHILE MALAYSIA is reviewing its certification, it is also doing its best to tackle illegal logging and ensure that its reputation is not tainted by illegal products from Indonesia.

Initially Malaysia banned the import of logs from its neighbour; Indonesia responded by exporting sawn logs so Malaysia then banned square logs of less than 60 sq inches.

Now Malaysia has to contend with the fact that Indonesian exports pass through its ports - free trade zones - en route to other destinations. In addition, timber is increasingly being transported in containers, which makes inspection more difficult.

Malaysia says it has always tried to work with Indonesia and in January 2005 its Prime Minister and the Indonesian President issued a joint statement renewing their efforts to tackle smuggling, including that of timber.

But stemming this trade is a tall order and Mr. Tham pragmatically accepts that illegal trafficking can never be eliminated totally. It's not made any easier by the fact that Indonesia comprises 17,000 islands and Malaysia shares a long border with the country.

Dr. Freezailah traces much of the problem back to the 1997 economic crisis when the World Bank programme included decentralisation of the timber industry and Jakarta's tight control was handed over to the districts. "Malaysia is sensitive to the problems in Indonesia but we don't want illegal timber coming into Malaysia: he said. "The MTCC assures there is no pollution of supply by illegal timber."

MTC is one of a partnership of timber trade organisations, including the Timber Trade Federation and the Dutch and Belgian associations, recently awarded a €3.5m grant to give practical support to timber tracking in Indonesia, Malaysia, Gabon and Cameroon.