Indonesia-Malaysia timber pact criticized<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A House member criticized the Indonesian-
\nMalaysian cooperation agreement on tropical timber yesterday,
\nsaying that the agreement doesn't address such strategic issues
\nas optimum utilization of natural resources and border-crossing
\ntrade.<\/p>\n
\"I support the agreement but I must remind the government that
\nthe border areas have been vulnerable to timber smuggling,\" said
\nImam Churmen, vice-chairman of the House's commission IV for
\nAgriculture, Forestry Affairs and Transmigration.<\/p>\n
Indonesia and Malaysia on Friday agreed to cooperate in
\nfighting international campaigns against tropical timber and to
\nconduct joint forestry projects with a view to increasing cost-
\nefficiency and productivity.<\/p>\n
He suggested that the agreement be implemented in a
\ntransparent manner for mutual benefit without intervening in the
\ninternal affairs of each country.<\/p>\n
Imam said there has been unfair competition between Indonesia
\nand Malaysia in the trade of tropical timber.<\/p>\n
Indonesia, which has 143 million hectares of forests, has
\nimplemented the principles of sustainable forest management.<\/p>\n
Indonesia also bars log exports and implements eco-labeling as
\nrequired by the International Tropical Timber Organization, Imam
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
Malaysia, however, which has only 1.942 million hectares of
\nforest, still allows log exports, he added.<\/p>\n
\"This is strange because Malaysia, whose forests are much
\nsmaller than ours, can export logs and plywood in large volumes,\"
\nImam told Antara.<\/p>\n
\"If Malaysia wants fair trading competition, it should not
\nexport logs,\" Imam said, adding that the matter should have been
\nincluded in the agreement.<\/p>\n
He hoped the agreement would reduce timber smuggling from
\nKalimantan to neighboring Malaysia.<\/p>\n
He criticized the consuming countries as not fairly treating
\nIndonesia's timber imports.<\/p>\n
\"They impose high import tariffs on processed timber but do
\nnot slap any tariffs on log imports. This is unfair in view of
\ntheir great concern over deforestation,\" Imam said.(01)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-malaysia-timber-pact-criticized-1447893297",
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