KUCHING: Deputy Minister for Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment, Datuk Len Talif Salleh says the National Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2022 must align with the laws related to forest, wildlife, and the land code of Sarawak.
While expressing the state’s support for the proposed amendment, he clarified that the federal government’s national land and forestry policy is accepted in principle.
“However, in terms of detail, Sarawak has full authority to implement it, including in the field of forestry and environmental protection.
“We are clear about the forestry law or Sarawak land code; it is under the authority of the state… In principle, we support it so that it does not contradict with our law, that’s all.
“However, any law enacted at the parliamentary level, which is not supported by the state government, we will not accept it.”
Len Talif shared these remarks with the media after officiating the Sarawak Forest Corporation (SFC) Integrity Day 2023 at the Borneo Convention Center Kuching here today (Nov 16).
Responding to questions about the recommendation by the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment, and Climate Change (NRECC) for the state government to adopt the entire amendment proposed in the National Forestry (Amendment) Bill 2022, he stressed the importance of avoiding contradictions with Sarawak’s laws.
“When any legal amendment is brought to the parliamentary level, there are intensive discussions at the department and stakeholders level.
“We have a national land policy and national forestry, but in terms of principle. In terms of details, it is still in our power to implement it,” he added.
He mentioned ongoing negotiations with the Department of Environment (DOE) regarding the devolution of powers in the state National Resources and Environment Board (NREB) law.
NRECC minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad highlighted that the improved bill introduces a public investigation process before an area of permanent forest reserves (HSK) can be gazetted out, along with the simultaneous replacement of the gazetted-out HSK.
This effort demonstrates the government’s commitment to preserving and conserving forested areas and biodiversity treasures, aiming to maintain at least 50 percent of the country’s land area covered by trees and forest areas by 2040.
