THE amendment to the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) (Amendment) Bill 2022 will give added value, especially to economic generation for the people and future of Sarawak.

In stating this, Safiee Ahmad (GPS-Daro) said the amendment was also in line with STIDC’s new role and function in strengthening the enforcement field related to the timber industry.

“This is also in line with the Sarawak government’s aspirations under the Post COVID-19 Development Plan (PCDS) 2030 where the timber industry will increase the annual export value of RM8bil in 2030 through products with high added value.

“Therefore, in order to realise this target, amendments to the existing Bill, namely the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation Ordinance 1973, need to be implemented to regulate the logging industry, including the operation of sawmills that were previously under the Forest Ordinance 2015 (Chapter 71).

“In fact, the licensing medium will also provide comprehensive control with the conditions that must be complied with compared to the previous registration method.

“With that, I fully support this Bill,” he concluded.