Sarawak timber firms hit by higher premium and payments for cess

In defending the department

KUCHING: Sarawak timber companies have to pay an additional 800% in rehabilitation and development cess, which has been raised to RM5 from 60 sen per cu m imposed by the state Forest Department in January this year.

Apart from the rehabilitation and development cess, timber players in the state were also slapped with higher premium for hill timber at RM50 per cu m or up by over 6,000% in July 1, 2017 from a mere 80 sen previously.