KUCHING: Chief Minister Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud last night challenged some independent agencies or non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to set up their respective political parties to confront him over land and environmental issues.He was apparently disappointed with some agencies and NGOs which had constantly raised issues pertaining to wildlife and environment in the state.
Citing an example, he said: “Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam), which is supposed to fight for human rights, has raised a lot of issues on land, which later jumped into orangutan talks.”
Speaking to launch the Sarawak Forestry Corporation’s (SFC) Orangutan Adoption Programme during the corporation’s annual dinner 2009 at a leading hotel here, he asked: “Why don’t they just form a political party rather than fighting in disguise?”
Taib, who is chairman of SFC, wondered why some NGOs chose not to understand what was taking place in the state.
“We are sincere people and serious in forest conservation policies despite all the problems we face. Every time the Penans set up blockades to stop logging, little has been raised that the timber people have fed the Penans.
“Perhaps it is time we talk more about ourselves and the real situation in the state. What the NGOs have said are not the reflection of the true facts,” he stressed.
He pointed out that the state’s conservation efforts today were not something many developing countries would achieve.
“Sarawak has done the best; no developing country has done as much as we do. We shall not be misled by NGOs. Of course, not all of them, but some are really naughty,” he said.
He thus called on SFC to continue living up to the reputation of the state in conserving forests and biodiversity despite issues being stirred by certain NGOs. Taib also emphasised that the state started protecting its orangutan some 50 years ago and it would never compromise on conserving the great apes.
“Orangutans are very sensitive and difficult to rehabilitate. This is because they share 97 per cent similarity with that of human DNA, and we know how difficult it is to look after orangutans,” he said.
He said people must be made to understand that oil palm plantations in the state did not destroy the habitat of orangutans because these animals were largely preserved in Sebuyau and Lanjak Entimau Wildlife sanctuaries.
“They are not everywhere throughout the state because areas other than Sebuyau and Lanjak Entimau are not favourable to them,” he added.
Meanwhile, SFC plans to have a major happening by year end, the formulation of the Inter-Agency Standard Operating Procedures for Performance of Forestry Functions in Sarawak, involving four forestry-related agencies in the state.
This was revealed by SFC Sdn Bhd chairman Datu Dr Yusoff Hanifah who said that the move would standardise, streamline and improve work flow which was integral to efforts to further reduce its operating costs.
“SFC was also given the mandate to compile relevant procedures, identify loopholes and iron-out what was previously considered as ‘grey areas’ among these various agencies in discharging their respective responsibilities and cooperation, Yusoff said.
He said towards this end, they were progressing according to schedule.
To achieve better integration in terms of daily operations, SFC had identified 40 projects under the 10th Malaysia Plan that spanned across traditional development areas, he said.
He further said staff performance was measured by key performance index like collection of revenue, enhancement of enforcement and upgrading of park facilities and services.
Yusoff added that change was inevitable and to move forward, they must open their mind to new ideas, practices and technology.
He said the Log Tracking System was introduced to ensure improved operational capacity in terms of royalty collection.
It was up and running at 17 customer service centres and all regional offices, he said.
On the plight of orangutans, he said the primates were highly endangered and saving them was very expensive, at around RM18,000 a year.
Thus, he called upon generous corporations to pledge their sponsorship to help raise funds for orangutan conservation and rehabilitation.
“Various adoption packages are available — Copper, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum sponsorship which go from RM10,000 onwards. I would like to urge more conservation-minded corporations or individuals to support SFC in this endeavour to ensure that the orangutans are here to stay,” Yusoff said.
During the dinner, Taib pledged RM10,000 in aid of the Orangutan Adoption Programme while Way Out Experience Sdn Bhd donated RM20,000 for the programme.
Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan and Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu, Second Planning and Resource Management Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Assistant Minister of Planning and Resource Management Mohd Naroden Majais and SFC Wildlife Controller, general manager and chief executive officer Datu Len Talif Salleh were also present at the event.
