MALAYSIA TO FIGHT ANTI)LOGGING CAM
panderson@gn.apc.org
Thu, 2 Apr 1992 12:53:00 PST
03/31 MALAYSIA TO FIGHT ANTI-LOGGING CAMPAIGN IN EUROPE KUALA
LUMPUR, March 31, Reuter - Malaysia is to set up a task force to
counter accusations it has failed to control logging, a government
minister said on Tuesday.
Malaysia must present "our side of the story to the mass media
and the European people," the national Bernama news agency quoted
Primary Industries Minister Lim Keng Yaik as saying.
In recent months Malaysian officials have complained that
environmentalists have disrupted the unloading of Malaysian timber
in European ports and demonstrated outside Malaysian offices.
Environmentalists say Malaysia has failed to control logging,
particularly in the states of Sabah and Sarawak on Borneo island.
They say this has jeopardised the way of life of the tribes who
make the forests their home.
The government says logging is being properly monitored. Lim
said he would visit Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Britain and the
Netherlands in May to meet officials and environmental groups.
"They have been presenting their side of the story and
therefore brainwashing the people of Europe," Lim said.
"The people or country accused must be given the right to say
their piece.
"I want to test the Western press and media to see whether
they will print our side of the story or not, because we have a
feeling the foreign press are already biased."
REUTER HKT ABM JM