FIVE civil society groups have urged Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to reform the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), which they say has long-standing flaws. They called for immediate action to ensure Orang Asal communities are not excluded from the certification process when logging occurs on their lands.

The MTCS is a voluntary scheme that provides independent assessments of forest management and chain of custody certification, aimed at ensuring the sustainable management of the country’s permanent reserved forests.

For years, indigenous communities and civil society movements have raised concerns about the scheme’s shortcomings, particularly in Sarawak, where rampant logging has negatively impacted local communities.

The five civil society groups, Bruno Manser Fonds, the Borneo Project, Keruan, Save Rivers, and RimbaWatch, submitted a report to the prime minister, outlining the necessary reforms.

Their report, titled “How to fix critical flaws in Malaysia’s timber certification system”, highlights the lack of independence among auditors, who often rely on the companies they audit for logistical support during field visits. This reliance is further complicated by the fact that companies select and pay their auditors directly.

“The threshold for non-conformities leading to the suspension of certificates is left to the auditors’ discretion, resulting in inconsistencies. Social standards, particularly Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC), are often deprioritised during audits,” the groups said in a statement today.

The report offers recommendations, including strengthening certification standards, improving auditing procedures, and ensuring the independence and accountability of auditors.

The groups also urged the government to enhance FPIC compliance, improve consultation processes, and overhaul the complaints mechanism.

“We also call on the prime minister to improve freedom of information, ensure civil society protections, and enshrine Indigenous rights in national legislation.” – September 10, 2024.