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to carry out centralised and systematic collection of biomass
raw materials to drive the national biomass supply chain AK House Project Media
systematically and effciently.

New scheme to raise wages
The government is introducing a programme to raise wages

for more than one million low-income workers as the country
grapples with rising living costs and growing inequality.
The scheme, which targets the small and midsize businesses
that account for the vast majority of Malaysia's workforce, will
be implemented in stages and is meant to complement the c) Uncertainties in tenure security.
existing minimum wage policy. “Apart from being consistently placed in the front line by almost
everyone else timber players are also facing uncertainties in
Chairman of STA speaks on challenges in timber supply tenure security. Timber players require long and secure tenure
chains to implement sustainable forest management in line with the 17

At Global Legal & Sustainability Timber Forum 2023 held in Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of the United Nations.”
Macau, a presentation was made by Henry Lau, Chairman of However, Lau asserted that most of the timber players
the Sarawak Timber Association (STA) addressing ‘Challenges throughout Malaysia and Sarawak in particular, are facing
and diffculties on international cooperation in timber supply insecurity of tenure.
chains’. He listed the following concerns: What is the effect of these uncertainties? It was proposed
that all stakeholders should incorporate this issue and remove
a) Timber players labelled as culprits. this constraint to achieve economic, social and environmental

“Timber industry players are frequently labelled, described and goals”.
perceived as culprits solely driven by economic gain and often
neglecting broader concerns. In reality, when illegal activities d) Complexities and disparities in consumer country
take place there is a tendency to assume that operators from legislation.
timber industry are involved prioritising economic gain over “Another challenge faced is that of ensuring compliance with
the wellbeing of forests and the environment”. various timber legislation enforced by consumer countries as
well as gaining market recognition for the efforts undertaken
b) Where can responsible timber players fnd help? by producing countries. The timber legislation can be highly
“For those who are committed to carrying out their timber complex and differs signifcantly from one country to another.

activities with an emphasis on delivering economic values while Inconsistent defnitions, regulations and requirements can create
equally maintaining social and environmental well-being and trade barriers and confusion in international cooperation efforts”.
good governance where can they fnd help and assistance?
In fact, many view the cessation of forest harvesting for e) EUDR.
economic gain as absurd saying failing to realise that if “This regulation poses a signifcant challenge for tropical timber-
the forests have no economic value they are vulnerable to producing countries because they still need to develop their
conversion for other uses”. economies. This situation could lead to a vicious cycle where