MOHD Shafie Apdal has defended Sabah’s ban on logs exports, saying the state should emulate Japan and Italy, whose wood-based industries provide jobs and make profits.

The chief minister said it is time for Sabah to have its own downstream timber activities.

“Sabah is rich in timber. Since independence, we have depended on exports. The potential of the timber industry has not been fully tapped into.

“Countries like Japan and Italy are making a profit from downstream activities, creating jobs for their own people. Their wood-based products are marketed the world over.

“It is now time for us to build our own industries, and ensure that job opportunities for Sabahans, among others, are created,” he said during the question-and-answer session at the state assembly sitting today.

He was replying to supplementary questions by Bingkor assemblyman and Sabah Star president Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.

Shafie said an in-depth study is being carried out on the sustainable use of timber resources, creating jobs in downstream activities, as well as licensing.

On licensing, he said the details are being worked out, and if needed, Sabah will request from the federal government that it be given licensing authority.

He said the same applies for other sectors, such as deep-sea fishing.

Presently, licensing for such fishing activities falls under federal purview.

Shafie did not say when the ban on log exports will be lifted, but said elements of monopoly exist in the issuance of timber permits by the previous administration.

He said there were several instances of non-logging firms being given licences to extract, buy and export timber, adding that this must stop.

Sabah’s revenue from timber continues to slide year-on-year, with RM180 million recorded in 2016 and RM157 million last year.

For this year, up till last month, the amount was less than RM80 million. – July 3, 2018.