Malaysian logging giant Rimbunan Hijau was alleged to have bribed police officers in Papua New Guinea to use force against landowners.

Australian current affairs programme ' Dateline ', which airs on the state-owned channel SBS, aired last Wednesday an interview with a New Guinean police officer who made the allegations.

The whistleblower, Emmanuel Bani of the Southern Command Task Force - an elite police unit - alleged that he had sometimes taken orders directly from Rimbunan Hijau to 'manhandle' the workers and landowners, according to the ' Dateline ' interview.

"We bashed them up, we hit them with huge irons... I apologise for what I have done but I followed orders because I wanted bread and butter like any other employee," said Bani.

Bani also alleged that he had help cover up such incidences, and had threatened to kill the injured victims should they speak up.

"I became violent because of their actions, because of their instructions," alleged Bani.

Violence 'inconceivable'

However, Rimbunan Hijau's secretary JK Balasubramaniam denied the allegations the company used violence, reported ABC Radio .

"It is inconceivable that a large multinational like Rimbunan Hijau would pay large lump sums to the independent Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary to suppress and conduct police brutality against the peaceful citizens of Papua New Guinea in western province," said Balasubramaniam.

However, ' Dateline ' reports that the company had acknowledged they pay police officials an allowance "to cover incidentals".

Rimbunan Hijau was founded by Sarawakian timber and media tycoon Tiong Hiew King - he was also an ex-senator for the Sarawak United Peoples' Party - who also owns local Chinese language newspaper Sin Chew Jit Poh .

The company runs the largest logging operations in the Papua New Guinea, as well as The National newspaper.

There have been previous allegations of intimidation and environmental destruction against Rimbunan Hijau relating to its logging operations in PNG.