The Vice President of TEAM, Mr Leonard Chew, along with Mr Chris Tan and Mr George Tan, representing TEAM, attended a Consultation Session on Raw Material Supply Issues and Workforce in the Timber Industry held by MTIB. The session was chaired by YB Datuk Chan Foong Hin, the Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities. The Chairman of MTIB, YB Larry Sng was also present.
The topics discussed during the session included the shortage of raw materials, the shortage of foreign workers and industrial tree plantations (ITP). TEAM mentioned at the Meeting on retaining the skilled workers instead of letting them return to their home country after working in Malaysia for 10 years as per the government policy.
TEAM drawn the attention of the Meeting on the extremely important issue of possible listing of 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢 spp and Keruing (Apitong) under the appendices of CITES proposed by the European Commission and the US Hardwood Federation respectively and highlighted the severe impacts.
The Deputy Minister instructed MTIB to pursue the matter. Industry members, including TEAM, are prepared to provide their support on this matter.