KL acts over illegal log accusations<\/p>\n
Malaysia will ban imports of squared logs of more than 60
\nsquare inches from Indonesia from June 1 in response to criticism
\nthe country was a laundering center for illegal timber, Primary
\nIndustries Minister Lim Keng Yaik said Tuesday.<\/p>\n
The ban on large scantlings and squares, or LSS, from
\nIndonesia comes a year after the Malaysian government imposed a
\nban on imports of round logs from the neighboring country.<\/p>\n
Malaysia will also tighten the issuance of import licenses,
\nwith importers required to show proof of legitimate export
\nsources other than Indonesia, Lim said.<\/p>\n
\"We are making this drastic decision in the interest of the
\ncountry as well as to erase the negative perception against our
\ntimber industry in particular,\" Lim told a news conference.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has come under criticism from international
\nenvironmental watchdogs for not doing enough to halt imports of
\nillegal Indonesian logs. The country has also been labeled as a
\nlaundering center for illegal logs, Lim said.<\/p>\n
Malaysia has been importing about 150,000 to 180,000 cubic
\nmeters of logs a year in the past few years, according to a
\nspeech presented by Lim at an industry event in early 2002.
\nDomestic production of logs is more than 20 million cubic meters
\nwith exports totaling 4.1 million cubic meters in 2002.
\n-- Dow Jones<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kl-acts-over-illegal-log-accusations-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}