ACHIEVING THE STATE’S ASPIRATION FOR THE TIMBER INDUSTRY IN SARAWAK

Abstract

In the state of Sarawak, the timber sector has grown from a small-scale local trade to become one of the most significant commodities in the world market. The 1980s saw the peak of log production and export, however, since 2015, export levels have been gradually falling. Through the Sarawak Forestry and Timber Industry Master Plan 2020–2030 and Sarawak's Post-COVID-19 Development Strategy (PCDS 2030), the Sarawak government then started a strategic action plan to transform the timber industry. This plan aims to achieve an annual export earning of RM8 billion for the timber industry by 2030, and recovery plans are put in place by this goal The purpose of this study is to evaluate these recovery strategies' viability and efficacy to help the state meet its goal of producing yearly export revenue by 2030. For this study, a qualitative technique has been used and six informants were interviewed in an organized manner. The research clearly shows that Sarawak has developed strong recovery plans through laws and other measures consistent with global sustainability objectives; however, the industry has faced several difficulties in putting these plans into practice that have not been fully resolved.