By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 10: The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) has expressed its firm support for the Forest Stewardship Council’s (FSC) recent decision to retain its association with Samling Group, calling it a validation of the timber company’s continued commitment to sustainable forest management in Sarawak.
In a statement issued yesterday (May 9), the department said the FSC’s April 25 decision — made following an assessment by an independent expert panel — reflects the improvements and responsible practices being implemented by Samling and monitored under Sarawak’s forest regulatory framework.
FDS also strongly rebutted allegations made by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs), describing them as “misleading, inaccurate, and failing to reflect the actual situation on the ground.”
The department emphasised that the claims ignored ongoing progress, transparency, and compliance efforts made by licensed forest operators.
“These claims do not reflect the actual situation on the ground. The complaint involved forest areas not certified under FSC but under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), which is endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC),” the department clarified.
The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC), which oversees MTCS, had already completed and closed its investigation into the matter in 2021, confirming the validity of the MTCS certificates.
While the FSC panel did note a minor violation outside of certified zones, it concluded that the breach was not significant enough to warrant disassociation. The panel affirmed that Samling’s operations generally met compliance expectations, with no evidence of systemic violations.
FDS also commended Samling’s progress in enhancing environmental and social governance — especially in stakeholder engagement, certification adherence, and sustainable practices — aligning with Sarawak’s Post Covid-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“We call upon all NGOs and stakeholders to engage constructively and truthfully, grounded in evidence and facts. FDS remains open to transparent dialogue but will not condone the dissemination of baseless accusations that undermine the integrity of Sarawak’s forestry sector and its internationally recognised certification systems,” the department said. — DayakDaily
