CHIEF Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal said no exception will be made on the state government’s decision to temporarily ban the export of round logs until certain issues are settled.

Saying that “what must be done has to be done immediately”, Shafie said that he would not entertain lobbying from any quarters and the decision to impose the ban on logs was endorsed at the state cabinet meeting yesterday.

“There are serious decisions to be made concerning the logging industry in Sabah and I have to put my foot down in the best interest of the people.I realise that it’s a tough decision to make, but it has to be done. As a matter of fact, it should have been implemented a long time ago.

“The ban could be temporary or it could be long-term, and the matter will be studied thoroughly. I am all for our logs to be processed locally, so that legal sawmills can operate and provide sawn timber and other value-added products, which in turn would create more job opportunities,” he said in a statement today.

The chief minister said the Sabah Forestry Department would be directed to inform all players, concessionaires, and operators of forest management units to comply with the cabinet’s decision with immediate effect.

Yesterday, the chief minister ordered the Yayasan Sabah Group’s forestry division to undertake a comprehensive review of its operations after it was disclosed that “exclusive operators” held a monopoly and took the bulk of the profits.

Shafie, who is also the Sabah Foundation chairman, expressed disbelief and sadness when told that Rakyat Berjaya (RBJ) Sdn Bhd, the operator of the foundation’s timber resources, had been in the red for four out of five years since 2013.

“Exclusive operators” were companies that enjoyed special privileges from the previous government and former chief minister.

Their deal involved the extraction and purchase of logs, with the privilege of exporting them at the best prices while RBJ only received a fraction of the profits.

RBJ’s operations also seem to indicate that the company can make better profits if logs are processed into sawn timber.

It was noted that RBJ could earn better profits if it sold the logs themselves.

Shafie said such a policy had to stop, as whatever business deals the government or its agencies are involved with must be productive and benefit the people, not the leaders.

“Now it looks like the well-connected ‘exclusive contractors’ are reaping fat profits out of logging activities while Yayasan Sabah is paid a pittance, and in some cases, incurs debts.

“It is obvious that only a handful of people are benefiting from the logging operations while Yayasan Sabah is forced to downsize as there is very little money for its operations,” said Shafie. – Bernama, May 29, 2018.