Samling denies wrongdoing over Sarawak logging concessions

 

Samling Group has refuted allegations of wrongdoing in managing two logging concessions in Sarawak - the Gerenai and Ravenscourt forest management units (FMUs).

This comes after local communities lodged formal complaints to the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) about an alleged lack of transparency.

MTCC is an organisation that operates a voluntary national timber certification scheme to provide assurance to buyers of Malaysian timber products that the products have been sourced from sustainably managed forests.

Samling, which includes logging, oil palm, construction, and property development in its portfolio also dismissed NGO Bruno Manser Fund’s (BMF) “baseless allegations” over the issue.

“Samling would like to state clearly and firmly that the allegations contained in the (BMF) post were false and lacked any shred of credibility or truth,” it said in a statement.

“The allegations have not only tarnished unfairly Samling’s image but have also brought into serious question the good reputations of both MTCC and of the certifying body, Sirim QAS International Sdn Bhd.

“Additionally, the allegations belittle the value of forest management certification and the integrity of the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).”

Logger: We did not refuse to share info

Previously, Penan communities appealed to the MTCC to demand that Samling show them the environmental impact assessment (EIA) and social impact assessment (SIA) reports for the two logging concessions.

Twenty-two villages in Baram wrote to the council over the Gerenai FMU. Nine villages in Limbang also wrote a letter over the Ravenscourt FMU.

In response, Samling stressed that both FMUs were certified following MTCC rules and international standards. However, it said it had yet to receive a “formal request” to share its EIA and SIA reports with the villages.

“The findings of the SIA are communicated to the communities - usually by the consultant responsible for the assessment - either by a visit to an individual community or at a meeting held for a group of communities.

“Contrary to what was alleged in the BMF post, Samling has not received any formal request to share neither the EIA report nor the SIA report.

“Thus, to allege that Samling has refused to release these reports is totally untrue, and to say they were not made available to the communities is also incorrect,” it said.

Protected forests

The Penan opposed the logging concessions because the stipulated area included portions of their native customary land where they hunt, fish and gather materials for their livelihood.

Samling said it acknowledged this fact but hoped local communities could engage them “directly” instead of through NGOs.

“Samling understands and respects the community’s dependence on forest produce and has neither denied the importance of the forest to their livelihood nor wilfully caused damage to forests that are used by the communities as food sources.

“At the same time, Samling also believes in the empowerment of local communities so that they can discern for themselves their rights and the responsibilities of the Samling Group, and engage directly with the group instead of through NGOs who claim to speak for the communities,” it remarked.

Samling’s subsidiary Samling Plywood (Miri) Sdn Bhd has a licence to log the Gerenai FMU from 2018 to 2027. It spans 148,305ha and includes two protected forests.

Almost half of the area - 48 percent - is located in the heart of the Borneo Corridor, a project to conserve one of the largest transboundary rainforests remaining in the world which covers forests in three countries – Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei.

Meanwhile, Syarikat Samling Timber Sdn Bhd is allowed to log the Ravenscourt FMU from 2016 to 2026. The area spans 117,941ha and includes two protected forests. - Mkini

✍ Credit given to the original owner of this post : ☕ Malaysians Must Know the TRUTH

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