KUCHING: Financial contributions amounting to RM1,070,000 were given to 19 social and welfare organisations by Sarawak Timber Association (STA) in conjunction with Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud’s 81st birthday celebration.
Held at Pullman Hotel near here yesterday, Tun Taib who graced the ceremony was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Honorary Secretary of STA Dato Henry Lau Lee Kong.
Beneficiaries such as Pusat Perkhidmatan Warga Tua Kuching, Rumah Seri Kenangan Kuching, Sarawak Society for Deaf, Sarawak Cheshire Home, Kuching Ausictic Association, Diabetes Malaysia Sarawak Branch, Sarawak Children’s Cancer Society, Sarawak Heart Foundation Kuching, Sarawak Society for the Blind, Kelab Rekreasi dan Sosial Jabatan Hutan Sarawak (FORESSA), Persatuan Kebajikan Islam Jabatan Hutan Sarawak (PERKIJAB), Kelab Peminat P. Ramlee Kuching and Pertubuhan Sahabat Pencinta Ilmu Kuching each received RM50,000.
Meanwhile, Dayak Bidayuh National Association (DBNA), Sarawak Dayak Iban Association (SADIA), Federation of Orang Ulu Associations Sarawak Malaysia (FORUM), Amanah Khairat Yayasan Budaya Melayu Sarawak (AKYBMS), The Federal of Chinese Associations Sarawak and Persekutuan Persatuan Melanau Sarawak each received RM70,000.
Earlier, Tengah in his opening remarks stated that Taib had contributed a lot for the development of timber industry in the state and had laid a very strong foundation for the industry especially during the last three decades.
“His Excellency’s policies on forestry while, never stagnant or rigid, have stood the test of time. Two very good examples of these are the policy for the establishment of forest plantations to supplant our natural forest or for feeding the downstream timber mills and the policy for the implementation of Sustainable Forest Management in Sarawak.
“The politics of development has brought about great development in all aspects. The progress achieved has benefited the people in the urban and rural areas. It also brings political stability, social harmony and unity among the various ethnic groups in the state and perhaps has accelerated the economic development of the state.
“We recognise the value and the significant role of our forest. That is why the state government is committed towards ensuring that its forest resources are sustainably managed. We practise sustainable forest management to ensure that our timber industry will continue to be one of the major revenue contributors for Sarawak,” he said.
Tengah who is also Minister of Industrial and Entrepreneur Development, and Second Minister of Urban Development and Natural Resources stressed that the state government has made some enhancement to the policy related to the forestry to ensure the sustainability of forest resources and timber industry in the state.
