MALAYSIA: Federal Govt Allocates RM42 Million for Sabah Forestry
Copyright 2001 BERNAMA THE MALAYSIAN NATIONAL NEWS AGENCY
September 19, 2001
KUCHING, Sept 19 (Bernama) -- The Federal Government has allocated RM42 million for the implementation of various research and development projects under the Eighth Malaysia Plan for the Sarawak forestry sector.
Deputy Minister of Primary Industries Datuk Anifah Aman said the allocation was an increase of 31 per cent compared to RM31.951 million allocated under the Seventh Malaysia Plan. He said this showed the federal government's eagerness in helping the state government to maintain and preserve the forest resources.
In this aspect, the ministry would continue its support to the state especially in the forestry sector, he said when launching the Sarawak Forestry Department's Forest Research Centre, near here today.
Anifah said research programmes must be intensified to ensure the forest resources could be optimised to the maximum.
"Forest management aspects change from time to time according to the current development and technology. This has influenced the pattern or the forest management system in use.
"Therefore, development programmes need to be enhanced for this purpose," he said.
Anifah also welcomed the state government's effort to achieve the vision, policy and programmes towards sustainable forest management besides developing the wood industry.
He said the forestry sector and wood industries had contributed a lot to Sarawak's economy and therefore the sustainable forest management programme was a wise and timely step.