KUCHING: The highlight of the third day of the third session of the first term of the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting yesterday (Nov 23) was the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which was unanimously passed at 11.46am.

The Bill was tabled by Deputy Minister for Urban Development, Land Administration and Environment Datuk Len Talif Salleh.

Len Talif said that the introduction of the bill was a clear manifestation of the state government’s firm commitment towards strengthening the legal and institutional framework for the effective management of the timber industry from the conventional landscaped to a value added and expert oriented industry.

“In summary the strengthening of the provisions relating to enforcement is important to ensure adequate provisions are available to regulate the timber industry.

“This will ensure that our timber products will continue to be widely accepted by the global market as it meets consumer requirements for legality compliance.

“With the target to increase annual export value to RM8 billion by year 2030, legality issues must be managed well through good governance and effective enforcement activities.

Besides the tabling of the aforementioned Bill, another Bill that was tabled yesterday by Minister for Food Industry, Commodity, and Regional Development Datuk Seri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom on the Veterinary Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2022 was passed at 12.41pm.

Dr Rundi said the amendment of the bill aimed to allow the State Veterinary Authority to delegate its functions and duties to any public officer.

He added, it was also to allow others to be authorised by the State Veterinary Authority to issue veterinary medicines.

“Due to the rabies outbreak, Sarawak has established an Immune Belt Enforcement Team (IBET) under the Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit on June 22, 2020.

“IBET will play an important role in complementing and supporting the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department in controlling rabies and conducting awareness programmes among the community,” he explained.

He also said that this amendment was important because it gave permission to IBET staff to assist the Sarawak Veterinary Services Department to administer vaccinations and carry out statutory functions and duties related to the State Veterinary Authority to eradicate rabies effectively in Sarawak.

Another bill that was debated was the Supply Bill (2023), 2022, which will be continued today (Nov 24).