Corruption In Corruption

Corruption in the forestry and land sector is one of big problem that happened in Sarawak in which it is considered as one of the factors leading to the occurrence of environmental degradation and it is also often linked with the issue of illegal logging. This situation can see through the investigation by Global Witness (2013) stated that the high level corruption in Sarawak is in the forestry and land sector. The corruption in the forestry and land sector is looking forward to the close relationship between Sarawak’s timber tycoons and local political elites where both have their own interests that can be obtained from the revenue of the timber industry. In this case, Global Witness found that Sarawak State Government have been involved in

This condition would show that how the political patronage plays role in exploitation the nature resources through logging activities. This situation is clearly seen when the State Government has issued the afforestation license to major timber tycoons for the encouragement them to carry out the planted forestry by 2.4 to 2.6 million hectares of fast-growing trees and included palm oil plantations. Issuance of licenses for forest replanting project are also controversial because it involves consumption of customary land as areas for plantations. This situation illustrates that the government failed to take into account the traditional and cultural practices of indigenous people had occupied the land. Suruhanjaya Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (SUHAKAM) as cited in Global Witness (2013) criticizes:

Sarawak State Government failed to recognize the rights of customary land in which Sarawak Land Code provides Sarawak government authorities to extinguish all native customary rights, and to stick to narrow definition of such rights that focuses on the cultivation of agricultural and settlement and ignoring traditional use of forests, such as hunting, fishing, and gathering food, medicine and building

From the research of Global Witness (2013), Malaysian Auditor General stated the poor monitoring and the weak of law enforcement has caused illegal logging and environmental destruction. In this case, Auditor General also founded that two logging concessions of Samling that conducted in illegally where it happened close to the riverbanks and hill slopes has caused erosion and water pollution. In Global Witness Investigation, they also found that illegal logging concessions of Samling Global have been documented by Japanese importers. This is clearly seen when Sojitz Corporation has purchased the product of plywood from Samling Company which is operated in Miri and Bintulu in which the source of the plywood that buy by Sojitz was acquired from illegal logging concessions that have been documented (Refer to Appendix 1 included Shin Yang Group Case). From this situation, we show that the international economic relation in timber industry between Sarawak and Japan as considered one of factor that bring to the illegal logging activities and forest degradation that threaten the livelihoods of the indigenous people and ecosystem