Southeast Asia

Malaysia stops importing wood from Indonesia

PONTIANAK, West Kalimantan, Indonesia - Malaysia stopped importing wood from Indonesia on June 24, following international pressure and the rejection of wood exports from that country by the international market.

Indonesian Forestry Minister Mohamad Prakosa said that because of the pressure and a lot of wood remaining unsold, the Malysian cabinet decided to stop imports of wood from Indonesia. "Therefore any wood entering Malaysia from Indonesia will be considered illegal," he said.

He said Malaysia had received pressure from the international community because a lot of wood in Malaysia was found to have come from Indonesia legally as well as illegally, and therefore many countries had refused to buy wood from Malaysia.

"So, please note [that there are] no more wood imports from Indonesia," he told reporters after holding talks with the head of the regional forestry service, Arman Malolongan.

Prakosa said Indonesia hailed the Malaysian government's decision because the country had suffered losses due to the illegal activity.

(AsiaPulse/Antara)
 
Jul 2, 2002


 
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