'Stop political fund-raising from logging'

Corruption watchdog Transparency International-Malaysia (TI-M) is urging the government to reduce the strong links between state financing and forest management.

This is to ensure the management of forests is done in a sustainable and acceptable manner, said TI-M president Paul Low during a Forest Governance Integrity (FGI) workshop in Kuala Lumpur today.

Low stressed that it was very likely that abuses will occur and the forest exploited if political parties rely on timber resources for funding.

He reminded the audience that corruption is "not just about bribery but the abuse of power entrusted by the people for financial and personal gain".

He added that timber concessions should be open to the public and strict terms should be observed in the selection of companies.

Make a choice

In response to politicians having stakes in timber companies, Low remarked: "They have to make a choice of either being in the business of exploiting timber or in Parliament looking after the interest of the people".

TI's FGI programme manager Manoj Nadkarni ( right ) maintained that most countries do have good regulations, researchers and scientists but graft upsets it all.

"No matter how good the laws are, unless you fight corruption on a regional basis, this scourge will go on," he said.

When asked what was the biggest criticism regarding our forest management, Low offered: "We do hear of abuses in East Malaysia of illegal logging and the exploitation of Orang Asli".

However, he stressed that TI "does not want to be critical of anything but is coming alongside the federal and state government and stakeholders including environmentalists, so that we can work together to deal with the issues.”

He lamented the lack of citizens' participation in forestry lawmaking and urged civil societies to be more proactive and be at the forefront of tackling graft.

When asked what the project has achieved so far, Manoj said that it has managed to develop a good stakeholder network and helped enforcers tighten laws.

Orang Asli matters

On another matter, Low ( right ) called on more Orang Asli to be placed in the Orang Asli Affairs Department and its subsidiaries after the indigeneous group staged a protest yesterday.

He said that decisions made by the department affect the Orang Asli's livelihood but they are very often not in the position to defend themselves and influence decisions that affect them.

He added: "The department cannot operate in isolation. They need to engage stakeholders and be part of the decision-making process."

He also hit out at the Rural and Regional Development Ministry for transfering a medical doctor to another state after she alleged mismanagement and abuse of power in an Orang Asli Hospital in Gombak.

"We should not penalise people who complain about mismanagement but should instead protect them. The ministry should see this as something positive, to be looked into and dealt with.

"This is not appropriate behaviour and should not be condoned," he said.