Indonesia-Malaysia timber pact criticized

JAKARTA (JP): A House member criticized the Indonesian- Malaysian cooperation agreement on tropical timber yesterday, saying that the agreement doesn't address such strategic issues as optimum utilization of natural resources and border-crossing trade.

"I support the agreement but I must remind the government that the border areas have been vulnerable to timber smuggling," said Imam Churmen, vice-chairman of the House's commission IV for Agriculture, Forestry Affairs and Transmigration.

Indonesia and Malaysia on Friday agreed to cooperate in fighting international campaigns against tropical timber and to conduct joint forestry projects with a view to increasing cost- efficiency and productivity.

He suggested that the agreement be implemented in a transparent manner for mutual benefit without intervening in the internal affairs of each country.

Imam said there has been unfair competition between Indonesia and Malaysia in the trade of tropical timber.

Indonesia, which has 143 million hectares of forests, has implemented the principles of sustainable forest management.

Indonesia also bars log exports and implements eco-labeling as required by the International Tropical Timber Organization, Imam said.

Malaysia, however, which has only 1.942 million hectares of forest, still allows log exports, he added.

"This is strange because Malaysia, whose forests are much smaller than ours, can export logs and plywood in large volumes," Imam told Antara.

"If Malaysia wants fair trading competition, it should not export logs," Imam said, adding that the matter should have been included in the agreement.

He hoped the agreement would reduce timber smuggling from Kalimantan to neighboring Malaysia.

He criticized the consuming countries as not fairly treating Indonesia's timber imports.

"They impose high import tariffs on processed timber but do not slap any tariffs on log imports. This is unfair in view of their great concern over deforestation," Imam said.(01)