MIRI – A leader of Sarawak’s ruling Gabungan Parti Sarawak coalition has described the scale of logging operations in the state as “too massive and destructive”.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu deputy information chief Datuk Peter Minos said such large-scale logging has been continuously carried out in Sarawak for far too long.
Citing a recent online survey conducted by WWF, which found that a large percentage of Sarawakians believe politicians are not doing enough to protect the state’s environment and ecosystem, Minos told The Vibes: “In fact, most politicians throughout Malaysia are like that. They talk about concerns for the environment but it’s only lip-service.”
“In Sarawak, logging operations have been too destructive due to their massive scale.
“The impact has been extremely damaging to the environment, to the natural ecosystem – the forests, rivers, mountains,” said the Kota Samarahan municipal council chairman.
He said Sarawak’s policymakers must prioritise the ecosystem when planning development projects.
“Any harvesting of logs must be limited to sustaining the locals’ needs – for them to build furniture, construct materials for housing and produce local wooden products.
“The logging of trees should only be conducted on a very small scale, and must be strictly controlled and regulated – unlike the huge timber operations we have now in Sarawak.”
Minos added that he looks forward to the day when Sarawak can impose a total ban on large-scale logging operations. – The Vibes, December 21, 2021
