KUCHING, Nov 23 — The Sarawak Legislative Assembly today passed the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) (Amendment) Bill 2022 to allow for new provisions aimed at increasing the state timber export value to RM8 billion by 2030.

Sarawak Deputy Minister of Town Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh said the Bill will pave the way for the state timber industry’s transformation towards value-added and export-oriented economic activities.

"With the target to increase the export value to RM8 billion by 2030, legality issues (concerning the timber industry) must be managed well through good governance and effective enforcement activities,” he said when tabling the Bill today.

Via the passing of the Bill, a timber industry licence will be introduced to replace the requirement of timber industry registration, while a temporary permit to operate will be issued as a temporary measure pending the issuance of a timber industry licence.

The Bill also introduces penalty provisions for illegal timber or other related activities, cancellation or suspension of licence, as well as enhancing and strengthening the enforcement powers under the STIDC Ordinance 1973.

Len Talif said the amendments will allow the ordinance to have adequate provisions to regulate the state timber industry in order to ensure that its products continue to be widely accepted globally by meeting the consumer’s legality compliance requirements.

"The introduction of this Bill is a clear manifestation of the state government’s firm commitment towards strengthening the legal and institutional framework for the effective management of our timber industry,” he added. — Bernama