KOTA KINABALU: An Opposition lawmaker is calling for the government and the Forestry Department to reimpose the recently lifted logging ban that could open the door to widespread illegal logging.

       Kota Kinabalu MP Chan Foong Hin said the lifting of the ban on Jan 3, which allows timber exports from natural forests, was at odds with the state government’s move to try and secure a carbon trade deal for conservation and monetising purposes.

       “During the Warisan Plus government, a log export ban was imposed in May 2018. Then-chief minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal had been firm in not entertaining any lobbying attempt for exemption of the ban,” Chan said.

       He said Shafie’s intention was for logs to be processed locally so that legal sawmills can operate and provide sawn timber and other value-added products, which in turn will create more job opportunities.

       He also said illegal logging was temporarily stopped as there was nobody for illegal loggers to sell their logs to.

       Chan said illegal logging could happen again as the Sabah Forestry Department was not proactive and aggressive when it came to investigating instances of illegal logging in the state.

       He urged the state government to take the matter seriously and stamp out any form of illegal logging.

       “Illegal loggers should be charged in court while royalties should be collected through forfeiture of properties of the offending company and/or its directors and shareholders,” he said.