KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will stop exporting logs temporarily to ensure there is enough to meet domestic needs.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said this was decided today following a briefing with state-sanctioned organisation Yayasan Sabah Group (YSG).
“I will instruct Sabah Forestry (Department) and authorities for the export of logs to be banned until further instruction from the state government.”
He said YSG would review its investments and not get involved in high-risk areas where it lacked expertise, but did not elaborate.
Shafie gave assurances that YSG would continue to provide scholarships as this was pledged during the election campaign.
Asked whether YSG would go on handing out cash bonuses, Shafie stressed that it would be better to provide jobs and educational assistance rather than cash handouts.
Asked to comment on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the fact that he was one of the few to speak out about the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) case, Shafie said he did it for the country.
“I told the previous prime ministerwhat needed to be done. It was up to him.
“For me it was not a problem as I did it for my country. All the rest, like the position of minister, are not important,” he said.
“If there is a need for advice, then we will advise.”
Yesterday , former MACC deputy chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull pointed out that only three former cabinet ministers – Shafie, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah – had dared to speak out about the 1MDB case and it had cost them their jobs.