KUCHING: The Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) has expressed support for the decision of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to retain Samling Group’s association with the council, subject to conditions.
It also rejected what it described as “misleading, inaccurate” claims by several non-governmental organisations (NGOs) regarding logging operations in Sarawak.
The FSC’s decision, issued on April 25 following an assessment by an independent expert panel, was cited by FDS as a reflection of Samling’s ongoing improvements and commitment to sustainable forest management in Sarawak.
FDS pointed out that the complaint involved forest areas not certified under FSC, but under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), which is endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC).
It said the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) had completed its investigation and closed the matter in 2021, confirming the validity of the MTCS certificates.
“The FSC Panel did find a small-scale violation outside certified areas but concluded that it was not sufficient to justify disassociation, given the overall scale and context,” FDS said.
It added that the findings affirm the majority of operations met compliance expectations, and that no widespread violations were established.
FDS reiterated that the allegations brought forth by civil society organisations, both local and international, do not reflect the actual situation on the ground.
“These claims are misleading, inaccurate, and fail to acknowledge the continuous progress and transparency shown by licensed forest operators under the monitoring and regulation of the Forest Department,” it added.
The department also recognised Samling’s efforts to improve environmental and social governance, particularly in stakeholder engagement, certification compliance, and sustainable forest operations, in line with Sarawak’s Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS) 2030.
“We call upon all NGOs and stakeholders to engage constructively and truthfully, grounded in evidence and facts,” said FDS.
The department also reaffirms that it remains open to transparent dialogue but will not condone the dissemination of baseless accusations.
