'Police report' by Sabah Dept leaves Rewcastle-Brown perplexed

Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown has expressed surprise at the Sabah Forestry Department’s (SFD) decision to lodge a police report against her website over “false claims” in two articles about logging activities in the state.

“I don’t know what to say,” the UK-based journalist told Malaysiakini.

“I reported the facts, and they (SFD) confirmed them. So what are you complaining about? I’ve asked questions, and you’re not answering them,” she added.

Rewcastle-Brown said she investigated the issue after local residents raised concerns about ongoing logging activities.

“I obtained photographs from local activists on Nov 21 and examined the facts. You (SFD) claim the trees being logged are diseased, yet they’re being loaded onto barges for export.

“They (SFD) have also accused me of ‘falsely attributing a press release’ to them. I am not sure which part was falsely attributed. They need to clarify this,” she added.

SFD cited two articles on Sarawak Report: “Illegal Logging in Sabah! (by the state government)” published on Dec 1, and “Sabah Forestry Admits Log Extraction and Export - Says Timber is Disease-Ridden” on Dec 3.

The department described these articles as containing baseless allegations and misrepresentations of its activities.

In the Dec 1 article, Sarawak Report alleged illegal logging was taking place, stating: “The sight of logging trucks pouring out of Sipitang laden with illegal timber over the past few days will disabuse anyone in Sabah of the notion that laws apply equally to lawmakers.”

The article also highlighted disputes affecting former employees of the bankrupt Sabah Forest Industries (SFI).

It stated that “predator buyers”, with the help of the state government, were allegedly exploiting the timber without paying proper dues, leaving local communities without financial support or essential services like electricity and water.

Rewcastle-Brown explained that her article was highlighting the argument of the SFI plaintiffs in the court case.

“They (SFD) are trying to say this is my own personal accusation. It was the point of the legal suit,” she clarified.

In refuting the Sarawak Report article, SFD’s chief conservator of forests, Fred Kugan stated that royalties were collected for the extraction of Acacia mangium trees in compliance with the Forest Rules 1969.

‘Diseased’ trees

In the Dec 3 article, Sarawak Report alleged that logging activities continued in the SFI licence area despite a court order to cease operations on Nov 8.

It also questioned why “diseased” trees, claimed to be infected by the Ceratocystis manginecans fungus, were being exported from Sabah to Sarawak, instead of destroyed on-site to prevent the spread of the disease.

The article asked: “If these trees are diseased, why boast about exporting them? Where is the quarantine process to prevent the spread of this disease to Sarawak?”

It further alleged that the logs were destined for Bintulu, Sarawak, where Yayasan Sabah has a contract to supply fuel to the Press Metal aluminium smelter plant.

Kugan said that SFD, in collaboration with Yayasan Sabah, was addressing the Ceratocystis wilt disease outbreak and had openly discussed the issue during the state legislative assembly in November.

He dismissed the allegations, asserting: “We strongly deny the claims published by Sarawak Report, which falsely attributed statements to the SFD. These are malicious and irresponsible accusations.”

Reaffirming its commitment to sustainable forest management, SFD urged the public to disregard the allegations, which it claimed were intended to undermine the department’s credibility.

Responding to this, Rewcastle-Brown said the “diseased trees” argument was raised weeks after the court order to stop logging.

“Why was it not mentioned to the court or to SFI who had been asking for the logging to stop?” she added.

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