Fulfill The SFMLA on Native Communities

Peter Marajin

REFER to news paper report on Ten companies which are partners of the state administration of 13 forest management units (FMUs) were presented with certificate of compliance by Chief Minister on Saturday.

That the FMU policies are now vindicated and proven to be correct.  

FMU's SFMLA (sustainable Forest Management Licence Agreements) have always been intended to be long term and reforest our forest reserves that have been over logged (wealth extraction) for decades. Continuous logging in very large volumes for many years has put a strain on this resources, and if not properly and immediately addressed, Sabah's natural heritage will soon be irrecoverably wiped out. Now we can see some of the results of the long term policy implemented. 

ln 1997, the state government announced its new policy on sustainable forest management and the adoption of Forest Management Units as the working blocks for the management of its forest, a bold step for a workable definition of SFM and action strategy to achieving it. A strong and continue political commitment at the highest level is indispensable for sustainable forest management to succeed.

Besides economic needs, the role of maintaining the ecological balance and bio-diversity are the biggest compulsion for the government's total commitment to and focus on conservation and reforestation. Saving Sabah's natural forest and ensuring the wellbeing of its people. The longterm policy of FMU is a wealth creation program forthe future generation.

FMU policy under Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee's cabinet has taken into consideration all aspects of development in FMU areas including the interest of NCR, the community development, employment and training for local people and basic infrastructure and social development are incorporated in the Sustainable Forest Management Licence Agreements (SFMLA).

Previously and even now there are some people and politicians are trying to mislead the concept of FMU, and manipulate some unfounded stories that the system and concept of FMU benefited nobody but FMU companies. lf FMU policy is no good and does harm to the people I thinkthe present government surely should have revoked and abolised the existing FMU policy.

The presentation of certificate of compliance by Chief Minister last Saturday is the manifestation that the government recognize the good performance of the FMUs under their charge in various parts of the state. As such the FMU initiated by former Chief Miniter Datuk Seri Datuk Panglima Yong Teck Lee is indeed a good policy.

It is our hope that the certificate of compliance not only covers the policy implementation and operational practices but also to fulfill the obligation of the SFMLA on native communities. By doing so the interest of the natives in FMU areas are protected.

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FMU proven successful and vital

10 FMU firms receive cert

SANDAKAN: Ten companies which are partners of the state government in the administration of 13 forest managements units (FMUs) were presented with certificate of compliance by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman here on Saturday.

The presentation ceremony was one of the highlights at Sabah Forestry Department's annual "Innovation Night 2011" held at the Libaran community hall.

The certificate was an official acknowledgement of their good performance of the FMUs under their charge in various parts of the state in 2010.

Among those who received the certificate from the Chief Minister was David Chieng Lee Kie, senior manager of  KTS Plantation Sdn Bhd that manages an FMU at the Segaliud Lokan Forest Reserve.

Datuk Dr Kelvin Tan, chairman of TSH Resources Berhad; Norman Wong Shew Yam, managing director of Sapulut Forest Development Sdn Bhd; and Shigeru Umehara, director of K M Hybrid Plantation Sdn Bhd were among others who did so on behalf of their companies.

Also there was Datuk Kamal D E Quadra representing Arus- Sawit Sdn Bhd, one of the two firms under Silam Forest Products Sdn Bhd that manages two FMUs.

Rakyat Berjaya Sdn Bhd, the commercial arm of the Sabah Foundation Group, a licence holder for three FMUs, including the one at Ulu-Segama-Malua, was among the recipients.

Other FMU firms that received the 2010 certiflcate of compliance were Sabah Forest Industries Sdn Bhd (SFI), Bornion Timber Sdn Bhd, Maxland Sdn Bhd and Lebihasil Sdn Bhd.

The Chief Minister also presented a special award to the Monitoring, Control, Enforcement and Evaluation (MCEE) unit of SFD in Keningau for their outstanding work in dealing with illegal logging activities in forest reserve areas there in the past year.

The MCEE team, headed by Mohd Noor Ahmad Ag Amat, included the district forest officers (DFOs) of Nabawan, Sook, Keningau, Tambunan and Tenom.

Datuk Sam Mannan, director of the Sabah Forestry Department (SFD), in his speech at the dinner congratulated those who received the FMU compliance certiflcate, saying that the government recognizes their contribution.

He also congratulated 37 officials and staff of the department who were presented with excellence awards for 2010 at the dinner and urged them to continue with this "culture of excellence".

By Joe Leong (Borneo Post)


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TSH commited to forest plantation

SANDAKAN: TSH Resources Berhad is committed to develop 1,500 to 2,000 hectares off forest plantation per year.

 Its Chairman, Datuk Dr Kelvin Tan, said this would spur them to intensify their effort to safeguard the forest for the next generation.

He said this after receiving the Compliance Certificate 2010 for Forest Management Unit (FMU) 4 in a ceremony held at the Libaran multi purpose hall here.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman officiated and presenten the certificate.

“TSH is a responsible corporate citizen. We have consistently achieved compliance as we have placed forest restoration and reforestation as a priority project in the FMU under our managment," he said.

As a matter of record, Tan said, TSH has carried out forest restoration (silviculture) on 12,000 hectares'of logged-over forest.

“An addition, TSH has undertaken large-scale reforestation, having planted 6,800ha (5.5 million trees) of rubber and timber species. Planting of Latex fimber Clone Rubber and timber species are still ongoing and we are committed to develop 11500 to2,000ha of forest plantation per year," said Tan.

“He said the company has also engaged SGS to'undertake Forest Certification for its FMU under the Pan-European-Malaysian Timber Certification Sdheme.

"It is most gratifying that we are certifred to be in'full compliance," he said.

State Forestry Director Datuk Sam Mannan congratulated TSH for the achievement.

Daily Express

Hak NCR dilindungi dalam kawasan FMU

Pertikaian parti-parti politik dan orang-orang tertentu menyatakan bahawa kawasan FMU telah mengambil hak orang kampong/anak negeri di bawah NCR(hak tanah anak negeri) telah terjawab oleh Pengarah Jabatan Hutan Sam Manan dalam suatu pertemuan dengan Pesurujaya Suhakam Jannie Lasimbang dan beberapa pihak NGO beberapa hari yang lalu.

Sam Manan telah menjelaskan bahawa dalam kawasan Hutan Simpan yg dikendalikan di bawah FMU dalam perjanjian lesennya Sustainable Forest management Licence Agreement telah memperuntukan khas untuk melindungi keperluan masyarakat setempat/orang kampong dalam kawasan hutan simpan(FMU) berkenaan.


Kawasan FMU adalah kawasan Hutan simpan yang dilesenkan kepada syarikat-syarikat yang layak di bawah perjajnjian Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Licence Agreement untuk mengurus dan mengawal hutan simpan secara mampan dan berdaya tahan seleras dengan prinsip dan peraturan ITTO untuk mengawal dan mengurus hutan tropika.

Sepertimana saya pernah jelaskan sebelum ini bahawa diantara lain dalam perjanjian tersebut ialah bahawa syarikat-syarikat FMU terikat dengan perjanjian Sustainable Forest management Licence Agreement, di antara lain; mana-mana hak NCR yang terkandung dalam kawasan FMU perlu dipatuhi dan dilaksanakan mengikut Enakmen Hutan 1968. Selain daripada itu program perhutanan masyarakat, kemudahan asas, bekalan air, bekalan letrik dan jalan raya termasuk sekolah dan klinik juga menjadi tanggungjawab syarikat FMU untuk membantu pihak kerajaan untuk melaksanakannya. Termasuklah juga memberi pekerjaan dan latihan kemahiran kepada penduduk setempat dan sekitarnya dalam kawasan FMU.

Ini bermakna bahawa kerajaan telah mengambil kira kedudukan hak orang Asal/anak negeri semasa mewujudkan program FMU di kawasan Hutan Simpan pada ketika itu. Saya mengulangi bahawa adalah menjadi tanggungjawab kerajaan untuk memastikan bahawa semua pengusaha FMU mematuhi syarat-syarat perjanjian dan pada masa yang sama Jabatan Hutan harus memantau dan memeriksa pelaksanaannya. Kerajaan harus mempertahankan hak orang Asal/anak negeri mengikut perjanjian tersebut dan bukan sebaliknya.

Kepada pihak-pihak tertentu yang memutar belitkan isu FMU menyatakan hak orang kampong/NCR terancam disebabkan wujudnya FMU adalah tidak berasas sekali dan sebarang kegagalan mempertahankan hak orang kampong dalam kawasan FMU adalah tanggungjawab pihak berkuasa dan kerajaan untuk membetulkannya mengikut lunas-lunas perjanjian lesen FMU berkeanaan.

Japiril Suhaimin ialah Ahli Majlis Tertinggi SAPP/Mantan Setiausaha Suhakam Sabah