KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 (Bernama) -- Baseless allegations by anti-tropical
timber groups against developing countries like Malaysia has cost the
affected nations large sums of money, said a local timber operator.
Managing Director of Rimbunan Hijau Group, Datuk Tiong Hiew King, who
criticised the groups for their unfair practices, said Malaysia had to
cough out millions of ringgit to correct the international perception.
Addressing the World Forestry Centre board meeting at Oregon, United
States, he called on the centre to play a more active role in potraying a
proper perspective of the global forest situation.
Tiong, who is also chairman of the Sarawak based company, said
Malaysia, especially Sarawak, had been a main target of criticisms by
radical environmentalists, who had accused them as mercilessly depleting
its tropical rainforests and destroying the world environment.
"Unless these subjects were treated with great care, clarity and
fairness, they might again be abused by certain quarters as their political
tools against tropical timber," he said. The text of his speech was
released here today.
Tiong called on the centre to play its rightful roles in creating
greater awareness amongst the world community about the importance of
forestry.
The centre should also provide the concerned public with a
comprehensive, constructive and balanced view of forestry policies and
practices, especially in tropical timber producing countries.
He said nothing was more destructive than advocating influential
governmental policies based upon misinformation and this was particularly
applicable in the case of tropical timber. - Bernama