DENYING BOYCOTTING TIMBER PRODUCT FROM MALAYSIA CAMPAIGN MADE BY NGO Afiqah bt Hasbullah Research Officer at the Malaysia

Timber Council (MTC) Abstract: A few years ago, an international non-governmental organization (NGO) had launched a campaign called boycotting timber product from malaysia. They claimed that the timber product from Malaysia is destroying the primary forest, especially Malaysia is regarded as one of the hotspot in biodiversity and that will cause in releasing a huge amount of carbon back to the atmosphere. Introduction Malaysia is rich in forest resources. However, to further explore the primary forest on a continuous basis to make money without control is not economical. Malaysia and Indonesia is the largest producer in exportation of timber industry. As we know, Malaysia is one of the hotspot in biodiversity and also has primary forest. Timber industry is the important industry in our country. Government policy encourages participation from bumiputera in this industry. Under the National Industrial Master Plan (IMP) and the Third National Industry Policy (NATIP), parties responsible for the industries involved, the Ministry of plantation Industries and Commodities exports of wood products targeted RM53 billon in 2020. Objectives To find why Malaysia has to export timber product. To search the important of forest in Malaysia in economic and non-economic aspect. To find the way made by government in order to preserve forest from destruction. To search the impact of forest in carbon emission.

Discussion Timber industry gives the higher income to our country because the sources can easily be found and get the higher request from other country. If timber product from Malaysia is boycotting, Malaysia will lose one of the primary income, economy will be effect and in instable condition. Rainforest in Malaysia is the sources of timber. Malaysia rich with the distribution of various species of commercial trees such as nyatoh, merbau, kempas, bitis and other that have high value. These ensure the supply of timber resources in the country for local use and to be exported. In addition, the diversity species of timber enables timber industry to use wood species carried out more widely. Forest sector is one of the essential income sources in Malaysia. It plays important role in the socio-economic development in terms of foreign exchange earnings, government revenue, investment and employment. In statistics between January and September 1990, the export value of timber and timber products was RM2.1 billion and for all total export revenue in our country 40% is timber industry. Total investment for the timber industry is more than RM967 million. Products from forestry sector exports consist of lumber, plywood, molding, veneer and

furniture. Total revenue is collected from forest royalties, premium and other source such as penalties, fines and compensation that related to forestry, forestry licenses and service were valued at RM203 million. Besides that, it also offers more than 62800 people work either in timber activities or downstream activities such as logging or sawmilling and furniture in that period to the local population. Try to imagine if the export of timber is block, of course the Malaysian income become decline and diminish. More worsen, many employees will lose their main income because of there is no more work after the timber industry is deny. These will increase the rate of unemployment and poverty in our country. Malaysias target to become developed country difficult to achieve. Rainforest play an important role in locking up carbon dioxide move to atmospheric via photosynthesis process. When forest is burned, degraded or cleared, large amount of carbon is release into atmosphere because the place that they accumulate and make photosynthesis is destroyed. The burning of forests releases about 2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. The buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is known as greenhouse effect. These will cause global warming. To prevent this occur and make sure the income from Malaysian timber industry still going on, the government drafting and take several action in order to preserve the forest. There are many action taken by government to make sure the economy of Malaysia is stabilize and in the same time the forest is conserve to avoid the destroying of primary forest and releasing huge amount carbon back to the atmosphere. One of the action is done is declare a permanent reserved forest area in the certain area that is strategic and enough term. Permanent reserve forest will be managed and classified under four main functions that are Forest Protection, Managed Forest, Recreational Forest and Research and Education Forest. Forest protection is to ensure the suitability of the climate and the physical condition of the country, control the water sources, soil fertility, environmental quality, biodiversity conservation and reduce the damage cause by floods and erosion to river and agriculture land. Managed Forest is to maintain supply, the production of all forest products at reasonable rate economically in the country and the need for agriculture, domestic use, industry and exports. Recreational Forest is to maintain a sufficient area as recreation places, eco-tourism and for public awareness on forestry. Research and Educational Forest is to conduct research, seduction and reservation of biodiversity.

For the purposes of exploitation of forest resources on a sustainable basis, timber production will be controlled by the balance between demand and production and also maximum utilization. The best forest management regime be practiced on Managed Forest formulated based on information obtained through the forest management and operation of an integrated and systematic. Forest exploitation and associated infrastructure development in the Permanent Reserved Forests and other forest areas will be coordinated and controlled on the basis of forest management plans or plan of forest exploitation that have been determined to maintain the level of timber production is reasonable, reduce damage to residual stand, seedlings and control of environment quality and ecological balance. Ensuring adequate supplies of crude and security for timber-based industries locally as well as continuous

development of this industry. Public and private sectors are encouraged to improve the forestry research.a