Amendment Bill passed to streamline overlapping functions between Sarawak Forestry Corporation, Forest Dept

Awang Tengah tables the proposed Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2024 in DUS sitting on May 7, 2024. Photo credit: Ukas

By Shikin Louis

KUCHING, May 7: The Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) today approved the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2024, aimed at streamlining the functions between the Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) and the Forest Department of Sarawak (FDS) to avoid overlapping responsibilities.

Deputy Premier of Sarawak Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan when tabling the Bill, said the Sarawak government in 2020, has mandated that the FDS to assume all responsibilities previously held by SFC as provided for under the Forests Ordinance 2015, which includes forest management, research and development, compliance, engineering, and revenue collection.

Conversely, the SFC was tasked with duties specified under the National Parks and Nature Reserves Ordinance 1998 and the Wild Life Protection Ordinance 1998.

Awang Tengah clarified, “Amendments to the Sarawak Forestry Corporation Ordinance 1995 are necessary to reflect this mandate, streamline overlapping functions, and establish a clear demarcation between the roles and functions of the SFC and FDS.”

He further detailed that under the proposed amendments, functions such as sustainable forest management, reforestation, forestry research, and forestry policy will now fall under the purview of the FDS.

The scope of responsibilities for the SFC includes managing natural resources like flora and fauna within national parks and protecting wildlife across Sarawak.

Awang Tengah who is also the Second Minister for Natural Resources & Urban Development (MUDeNR) and Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment (MINTRED) further said among the proposed amendments is to provide for the appointment of the Deputy Minister in charge of natural resources as the Deputy Chairman of the Board.

“The appointment will facilitate administrative and operational synergies, drawing on the minister’s expertise in handling complex resource management issues across forestry, land use, and wildlife.

“Furthermore, being under the Ministry, it allows the SFC to operate within a legislative framework designed for integrated natural resource management, effectively balancing ecological preservation with human development needs,” he added.

Among the proposed amendments is the appointment of the Deputy Minister in charge of natural resources as the Deputy Chairman of the SFC Board, facilitating administrative and operational synergies.

Furthermore, the top executive’s title will change from ‘Chief Executive Officer’ to ‘General Manager’ to align with other statutory bodies under the Ministry.

With seven members of the august House participating in the debate of the Bill, Awang Tengah expressed gratitude to all the ideas and proposals which would assist the Sarawak government to implement and enforce Sarawak Forestry Corporation (Amendment) Bill 2024. — DayakDaily