By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Oct 21: More than 1.6 million hectares of forest areas in Sarawak have been certified under the internationally recognised Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), reaffirming the State’s strong commitment to sustainable forest management and environmental stewardship.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said this achievement reflects the State’s ongoing efforts to ensure that Sarawak’s vast forest resources are managed responsibly, balancing economic growth with environmental conservation.
He commended the Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) for its continuous innovation and dedication in promoting sustainable forestry through various digital and research-based initiatives.
He highlighted the Department’s successful implementation of cutting-edge systems such as the Enterprise Forest Information Management System (EFIMS) and the Sarawak Logs Tracking and Forest Revenue System (REVLOG), which have enhanced transparency, efficiency, and integrity in forest governance.
“Through digitalisation, we are ensuring better monitoring and accountability. These systems represent the transformation of our public service, one that is efficient, transparent, and built on integrity,” he said in his speech text when officiating the Forest Department Sarawak 2025 Outstanding Service Awards (APC) and Retirees Appreciation Ceremony here on Monday (Oct 20).
Awang Tengah, who is also Second Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development, also lauded Sarawak’s achievement in the 100 Million Tree Planting Campaign, revealing that the State surpassed its initial target of 35 million trees ahead of schedule and had planted over 50 million trees by July 2025.
“On July 12, 2025, the Premier of Sarawak (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg) planted the 50 millionth tree to mark International Forest Day. Our efforts make Sarawak one of the main contributors to Malaysia’s national forest restoration campaign,” he added.
Sarawak, he emphasised, also made history as the first State in Malaysia to implement forest carbon licences, a key step toward developing a green economy and a nature-based carbon market.
He further noted that the Sarawak Delta Geopark achieving Green Card (Accepted) status from the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council in September 2025 represents another milestone in conservation excellence, paving the way for full recognition as a UNESCO Global Geopark Site.
Awang Tengah praised the Forest Department’s expanding global partnerships with leading institutions such as the National Institute for Environmental Studies (NIES) Japan, Arbonaut Finland, and the Smithsonian Institution, which have strengthened Sarawak’s position as a hub for research in tropical forestry, biodiversity, and carbon management.
“These collaborations not only elevate Sarawak’s research capacity but also align with the State’s commitment under the Paris Agreement 2015, the Post-Covid Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030, and the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint 2030,” he said.
In line with Sarawak’s public sector transformation agenda, Awang Tengah reiterated the importance of the 3R Mindset, which focuses on Revisit, Rethink, Recharge, in encouraging civil servants to innovate, adapt to change, and renew their dedication to service excellence.
“The government is committed to promoting a ‘public service with private-sector efficiency’. This means every project, from forest restoration to enforcement, must deliver maximum value, be managed transparently, and make a real difference to the people and environment,” he reminded.
He congratulated the recipients of the Outstanding Service Awards and retirees for their years of dedication and contribution to the State’s forest sector, describing them as the backbone of Sarawak’s progress in sustainable resource management.
“Your hard work and integrity are what make Sarawak’s forestry sector world-class. I urge all officers to continue upholding these values as we move forward in our transformation journey,” he said.
The ceremony celebrated the commitment of civil servants who have demonstrated excellence in service and honoured retirees who have contributed decades to the conservation and development of Sarawak’s forestry sector.
At the ceremony, a total of 89 officers and staff received the APC, while 35 recipients received the Retirement Appreciation.
Also present were Permanent Secretary to the Ministry for Natural Resources and Urban Development Datu Abdullah Julaihi, Sarawak Forestry Department director Datu Hamden Mohammad, LCDA general manager Datu Dr Zaidi Mahdi, Sarawak Land and Survey Department director Datu Awang Zamhari Awang Mahmood, Natural Resources and Environmental Board (NREB) Controller Datu Jack Liam, PUSAKA general manager Datu Zainal Abidin Abdullah, and Sarawak Forestry Corporation chief executive officer (CEO) Abang Arabi Abang Aimran. — DayakDaily
