Kota Kinabalu: Warisan Kota Kinabalu secretary Loi Kok Liang has urged the State Government to reassess its raw log export policy, following the interception of a timber shipment at Tawau Port that was confirmed to originate from a legal concession under Yayasan Sabah.
Although the shipment was deemed legal by the Sabah Forestry Department, Loi questioned the rationale behind such exports, stating that “legal does not mean reasonable.”
In a statement issued, Loi expressed concern over what he described as a noticeable increase in logging activities across the state this year.
He warned that deforestation is contributing to more frequent and severe flooding, with long-term environmental impacts far outweighing any immediate economic gains.
“The destruction of water catchment areas is particularly alarming,” he said. “Without trees to absorb rainwater, runoff increases, resulting in soil erosion and floods that affect communities.”
Loi also criticised the current economic model that prioritises raw log exports over local industry development. He argued that retaining logs for domestic use—such as in furniture manufacturing and woodcraft—could generate significant employment opportunities for Sabahans.
“Thousands of jobs could be created if logs were processed locally instead of being shipped overseas,” he said.
Highlighting issues of governance, Loi raised concerns over the lack of transparency in logging concessions, warning that Sabah’s forest reserves risk depletion if current practices persist.
“We must stop being slaves to raw material exports,” he said. “Sabah’s forests should serve the people, not be exploited by politically connected business interests.”
He called on the State Government to prioritise sustainability and environmental stewardship in its forestry policies.
“Our forests are our future, not commodities to be traded for short-term profit,” Loi said.