KOTA KINABALU: The State Legislative Assembly on Thursday passed a Bill to amend the Forest Enactment 1968 to strengthen forest protection, carbon control and impose harsher penalties on illegal logging.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Al Hambra Juhar announced the passing of the Bill Forest (Amendment) Enactment 2025 tabled by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir.
Key changes in the Bill includes carbon credit rules whereby companies must get permits for forest carbon projects and profits stay in Sabah, forest officials can close reserves if needed for protection and higher penalties can be imposed on illegal logging (up to RM5 million fine and 20 years jail) and forest fires (up to RM500,000 fine and 10 years jail).