KUCHING – The Sarawak government’s success in diversifying its stream of revenues has enabled the state economy to be less dependent on timber as a major source of income, says Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said the last state budget showed that timber’s position as one of Sarawak’s major sources of revenue had dropped after chalking about RM300 million, which was way behind royalty payments for water at about RM600 million.
“Now we have a new diversified stream of revenues. We are not relying on timber only. We can slow down the contribution of the timber industry to our economy, but at the same time, we must restore our forests by planting trees,” he told reporters after officiating a tree planting ceremony here today.
Abang Johari said the state government had worked out a new policy and prepared a RM60 million fund for the Sarawak Forests Department to carry out a forest replanting exercise.
“We also allow local people to plant trees and the seedlings can be obtained from forest nurseries. The local people can also be involved in the (forest) replanting exercise,” he said.
Abang Johari, who is also state Finance and Economic Planning Minister, said the rate of illegal logging activities in Sarawak had tremendously dropped following the adoption of new data gathering technology and drone aerial surveillance.
“Now we use technology to detect (illegal logging) and because of the technology you (illegal loggers) cannot avoid that (from being detected),” he added. – Bernama, December 23, 2020
