KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah government plans to amend the state forestry enactment so that it is in line with the newly amended National Forestry Act.
Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the proposed amendment will cover the international agenda on overcoming climate change, mitigation approaches for carbon trading, and biodiversity conservation.
“The amendments should also include closing the gaps on the cooperation with Sustainable Forest Management Licence Agreement holders.
“I think it is time for the state government to carry out similar efforts to amend the State Forestry Enactment 1968 to ensure the state legal framework follows the developments of present time,” he said during the 2022 Forestry Appreciation Night Ceremony held at the Sabah International Convention Centre yesterday.
On July 18, the Dewan Rakyat unanimously passed the National Forestry Act’s enactment in an effort to beef up the increase in penalties for offences committed in forest reserves.
Sections 11 and 12 of the act are totally new provisions where the state is required to hold a public inquiry before removal of any area from being a forest reserve.
Under Section 12, the state authorities must also replace the land taken out of the forest reserve by an equal or larger sized land area.
Offenders involved in primary forest production taking up more than five square metres can face a jail sentence of between five and 20 years, and fines of between RM100,000 and RM5 million.
The minimum jail sentence for those convicted for logging is between five and 20 years. They can also be slapped with fines of up to RM1 million.
Those defacing or altering forest boundaries for illegal logging purposes could face a jail term of between five years and 20 years, in addition to the RM1 million fine.
Starting forest fires in forest reserves would see offenders facing jail time and fines.
Hajiji said that the federal government must have learnt from Sabah when introducing these tougher laws, saying that the stiffer penalties were already in practice in the state.
Still, Hajiji urged the Sabah Forestry Department, and related departments like the Sabah Attorney General’s Office and others to review present provisions in the state forestry enactment for the purpose of amending the new law. – The Vibes, August 25, 2022
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