SARAWAK is feeling the impact of tightening international scrutiny, especially from the European Union, over issues relating to forest clearing and deforestation, said a senior state minister.
Datuk Seri Stephen Rundi Utom, State Minister for Regional Development, Food Industry and Commodities, said countries in mainland Europe are imposing very tough economic standards with regard to environmental matters.
Speaking during an oil palm plantation event here in Miri, he said Sarawak has halted the issuance of new provisional leases for oil palm plantations in the state to mitigate deforestation.
"In Sarawak, we have about 1.6 million hectares of land opened up for oil palm plantations. That is enough for now.
"The Sarawak government has halted issuance of new provisional leases for such plantations so there will be no new operators for now.
"The existing land in Sarawak planted with oil palm trees are enough to benefit the people here.
He said there were increasing challenges due to tightening of international regulations on deforestation.
"For example, the tough regulations from the EU not only affect our logging and oil palm sectors in Sarawak, but it may also hit other land development sectors like rubber plantations, cocoa and pepper farms.
"The tough EU policies against deforestation not only impact Sarawak but also many other countries," he said.
Rundi said that despite halting the issuance of new leases for oil palm plantations, the state government will still assist indigenous natives in developing their Native Customary Rights land on smaller scales.
"We will continue to help those native landowners to plant oil palm on their land even as we stop issuing new leases for the big plantations," he stressed.
Sarawak's logging and plantation sectors have been under the strict radar of the international community, especially the EU, after decades of timber blockade controversies and plantation disputes between the natives and giant companies operating in the state. – February 20, 2025
