A coalition of Malaysian and international NGOs has released a memorandum in response to a recent Netherlands timber procurement assessment committee (TPAC) report on the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS).
The organisations express serious concerns about the independence, quality and credibility of the assessment carried out by the TPAC.
According to the authors of the memorandum, the report once again highlights systemic weaknesses within the Malaysian certification system, including the neglect of indigenous community complaints, poor adherence to international human rights norms such as free, prior and informed consent, and a lack of transparency in audit and grievance procedures.
They argue that the TPAC’s largely positive conclusions about the MTCS do not reflect the on-the-ground realities. By continuing to recognise the MTCS without much more stringent demands and monitoring, the Dutch government risks implicitly legitimising human rights violations and deforestation.
As Komeok Joe, managing director of Indigenous organisation Keruan, states: “Logging in Sarawak often happens without our consent. It destroys our forests and the food we rely on, contaminates our rivers, and worsens our lives. Calling this ‘sustainable’ is a mockery of Indigenous rights.”
Celine Lim, the managing director at Save Rivers, observes: “It is disappointing to see once again that Indigenous peoples’ welfare is not being taken seriously enough to change the way business as usual is conducted in their customary domain.
“The environmental and social problems are briefly acknowledged, but with no resolve towards real solution and protection for peoples whose livelihood and homes are in continuous state of threat and insecurity,”
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Paul Wolvekamp, a senior policy advisor at Both Ends, concludes. “After more than 15 years, the same problems persist. Without independent oversight and transparent monitoring, the label ‘sustainable timber’ remains misleading.”
In the memorandum, the NGOs call on the Dutch authorities to:
- Reconsider the recognition of the MTCS
- Establish a robust and independent monitoring framework
- Ensure full alignment with the EU Deforestation Regulation, the EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and international conventions such as ILO-169 and UNDRIP
The signatories emphasise that they are not opposed to timber production, provided it is carried out in full compliance with human rights, environmental safeguards and credible certification standards. – Borneo Project/Save Rivers/Keruan/Both Ends/Bruno Manser Fonds
Read the full response to the TPAC report Final Judgement Detailed Research MTCS, 11 June 2025
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.
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