KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s timber sustainability initiative has gone another step further with the launching of the Sabah Timber Legality Assurance System Plus (Sabah TLAS+) Booklet.
This Sabah TLAS+ is the first system of its kind globally to comprehensively align with the legality, European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) deforestation-free requirements, and voluntary sustainability principles within a single, integrated framework.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the launching of this booklet is a testament to the state’s readiness to trade responsibly, safeguard its forests for future generations, and remain a trusted leader in the global green economy.
“This positions Sabah at the forefront of global regulatory and market expectations,” he said at the launch of the Sabah TLAS+ Booklet at the Hilton Hotel here Thursday (Feb 5).
His speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister cum Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
Hajiji said the Sabah TLAS+ Booklet was created in response to the evolution of the global market, such as the EUDR, expected to take effect by late 2026, which demands that timber products be not only legal but also deforestation-free, traceable, and rigorously risk-assessed.
“The state government, through the Sabah Forestry Department, has taken a proactive stance by collaborating with the European Union-Malaysia Cooperation Facility in 2024 to transition our existing system to Sabah TLAS+.
“This upgrade ensures our governance framework remains aligned with international standards while enhancing transparency, accountability, and integrity across the entire supply chain,” he said.
The Sabah TLAS+ integrates cutting-edge governance elements, including digital traceability, geolocation and reinforced social and environmental safeguards, said Hajiji.
“It ensures full compliance with deforestation-free and forest-degradation-free requirements and incorporates voluntary principles aligned with the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (EU CS3D),” he said.
This empowers companies to strengthen their management of human rights and environmental risks in line with global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) expectations, he added.
Hajiji said, in practical terms, Sabah’s timber producers are no longer merely meeting minimum legal standards, but they are now equipped to demonstrate transparent, ESG-ready compliance for the world’s most discerning markets.
The Chief Minister also expressed appreciation to the European Union for its technical and financial support.
