Sabah Softwoods denies misconduct, defends legal timber exports
Published on: Thu, May 01, 2025 Text Size: Sabah Softwoods Berhad (SSB) has denied allegations of wrongdoing over its timber exports, calling recent online claims misleading and damaging to both the company and the Sabah government. 'The public narrative around our eucalyptus exports is not based on facts,' said SSB Chairman Datuk Mohd Arsad Bistari in response to a viral Facebook post. 'Our operations strictly follow Malaysian laws and are approved by relevant authorities," he said. He emphasized that SSB holds international certifications including the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Sabah Timber Legality Assurance System (TLAS), ensuring its timber is sustainably sourced, legally harvested, and traceable. SSB, a subsidiary of Yayasan Sabah, plays a key role in the state's upstream timber industry. It was previously exempted from Sabah's 2018 log export ban under the directive of former Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal. 'SSB has operated professionally for over 50 years and continues contributing to Sabah's development,' Arsad added. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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