KUCHING: Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) Sarawak division fully supports Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s determination to stem out illegal logging and corruption in the timber industry and urges all caring and honest Sarawakians to do likewise.
In a press statement, MTUC Sarawak secretary Andrew Lo pointed out that MTUC fully agreed with the chief minister when he said senior forestry enforcement officials must not do their job with eyes that are blind, ears that are deaf and mouths that are dumb.
“He also hit out at top timber tycoons. Some of course…not all… pretend that they did not know. The reason is simple; either they are stupid, cowards or corrupt”.
“These words should be repeated every day and hung on the walls of every government department, every timber multi-story corporate building, every police station, every political party’s office, every minister’s office, every elected representative’s office and every district office, in fact in every home in the country,” he stressed.
Lo also said the situation of forests in Sarawak was no different from the devastation of Cameron Highlands that has resulted in death.
“Those flying out of Kuching must notice that five minutes after taking off, they will be shocked to see vast swathes of forest being cleared, most likely for oil palm plantation, which is also the main business of timber companies. The area stretches from Gunung Serapi in Matang along the coast all the way to Batang Kayan in Lundu.
“It is just at the doorstep of Kuching, and we still claim that more than 80 per cent of Sarawak remains under forest cover? Do not tell me oil palm plantation is forest!” he said.
Thus, he stressed, every Sarawakian must help the chief minister to monitor the major timber companies and report any suspicious activities.
“Fighting corruption is never easy, especially after decades of cozying up to the influential players all in the name of politics of development, It has become ingrained and even an ‘accepted’ way of doing business.
“Adenan has taken a major step. Let’s hope the power that be does not derail him,” he said.
In addition, Lo pointed out that the chief minister had also nailed it on the head when he told the timber titans to monitor their sub contractors, their sub-subs, suppliers, camp managers and workers.
“MTUC have long complained about the practice of treating workers by contractors in the timber industry.
“This is contributed by lack of enforcement and also poor workers from the longhouses and no EPF contributions.
“In a lot of cases at the Appellate Board of Socso, these workers were not entitled to Socso coverage when they suffered employment injury, even death,” he lamented.
Source :[ The Borneo Post ]