Background

Sarawak Timber Association (STA) was formed on 7 August 1971 in Sibu by three founding
members; namely, The Sarawak First and Second Divisions Sawmillers’ Association, The Third
Division & Bintulu District Sawmillers’ Association and The Fourth Division Timber Merchants’
Association. On 20 September 1988, STA had sucessfully restructured its membership when
existing members under the leadership of the late Dato Sri Lau Hui Kang (STA Chairman from
1986 to 2002) of the Associations then were disbanded, and together they formed a single
association, STA.
On 15 June 1988, STA shifted to its new office in Wisma Sumber Alam, Kuching. In a historical
move on 15 October 2000, STA shifted to its own building, Wisma STA.
The overall management of STA is vested with the Council, which comprises 12 Permanent Council
and 36 Council Members elected by the general membership once every two years. A Management
Committee comprising the 5 Office Bearers and the Chairman of the Categories of membership
manages the non-policy matters of the Association. The Council is supported by the Secretariat
comprising a staff strength of 22 members.
STA is the only timber association in Malaysia representing companies involved in both the
upstream and downstream activities of the timber industry and its subsequent trade. Currently, STA
has about 430 member companies dealing with timber and timber products which includes logs,
sawntimber, plywood, mouldings/dowels, furniture, laminated boards and other panel products.
STA promotes the practice of sustainable forest management; monitors world timber markets;
assists producers, buyers and investors to network; and through its two subsidiary companies;
conducts training and research; and supports community and welfare service projects.

History

On 7 August 1971, an inaugural meeting was held at No. 6 Kampung Nyabor Road, Sibu among
representatives from three associations, namely the Sarawak First and Second Divisions
Sawmillers’ Association, the Fourth Division Timber Merchants’ Association, and the Third Division
and Bintulu District Sawmillers’ Association.
Representatives who attended the meeting held on 7 August 1971 were:
Sarawak First and Second Divisions Fourth Division Timber Third Division & Bintulu District
Sawmillers’ Association Merchants’ Association Sawmillers’ Association
 Mr. Pui Chin Jang  Mr. Ting Ing Mieng
 Mr. Yao Ping Choon  Mr. Chai Ei  Mr. Ding Jack Sung
 Mr. Ting Ing Hieng  Mr. Tang Chiok Beng  Mr. Ling Beng Hung
 Mr. Lau Hieng Ding  Mr. Siaw Fook Chong  Mr. Chen Chuan Ching

The meeting was convened to explore the possibility of establishing a single body to look after the
timber industry’s interest. Quoting a phrase made by the Chairman of this meeting, Mr. Ting Ing
Mieng as recorded in the minutes of that meeting:
“the necessity of establishing a united body that will look after the interest of the timber
and sawmilling industry and also serve as a vehicle to liaise between the Government and
its members, and in many other ways assist members insofar with regards to the law”
After a lengthy discussion, it was unanimously agreed that establishment of such a body was a
step in the right direction and would meet a long-felt need. Initially, those who were present in the
meeting proposed to name this body “Pan-Sarawak Sawmillers’ Association”. However, after some
consideration, it was felt that the proposed name was not appropriate as this body is meant to serve
others apart from the sawmilling industry. Eventually, the meeting unanimously agreed to name
this body as “Sarawak Timber Association”.
On 7 December 1971, the Registrar of Societies approved Sarawak Timber Association, or STA,
in short, as a legal body with the registration number of 66/71 (Sarawak). According to its
Constitution at that time, membership was opened only to timber associations, not individual timber
company which is registered in Sarawak. The first office of STA was at 3 rd Floor, No. 6, Kampong
Nyabor, Sibu.

First Committee Members of Sarawak Timber Association

Chairman:Mr. Ting Ing Mieng
Vice-Chairman: Mr. Pui Chin Jang
Honorary Secretary: Mr. Chen Chuan Ching
Honorary Treasurer: Mr. Tiong King Hoon
Committee Members:
Mr. Chai Ei
Mr. Goh Ah Hiong
Mr. Siaw Fook Chong
Mr. Tang Chiong Beng
Mr. Ting Hok Huang
Mr. Ting Ing Hieng
Mr. Yao Ping Choon

Objectives & Philosophy

 To promote, foster and enhance the relationship between all members of the Association,
 To promote and uphold as prudently as possible the interests and well being of all members of the
Association,
 To promote, ascertain and protect the continuous well being of the timber trade and industry in the state
of Sarawak,
 To promote and encourage the practice of sustainable forest management and forest conservation,
 To promote and improve the welfare of those communities residing in the vicinity of the timber
concessions; to provide scholarships and financial contributions for the advancement knowledge & skills
through education and training,
 To encourage and promote scientific and industrial research useful to the timber and forestry industries,
 To invest and/or engage with the approval of the general meeting in any business which may be beneficial
to the Association,
 To purchase, take on lease, exchange hire or acquire any movable and immovable property rights
privileges which will benefit the Association for the achievement of its objects, and
 To invest with prudence in the shares, stocks, debentures, bonds, notes and securities issued or guaranteed
by any company, government or public body in Malaysia; and to invest all monies not immediately
required by depositing such monies with any approved banking or financial institution in Malaysia.

STA's philosophy in implementing its objectives

“Adopting a consultative, constructive and pragmatic approach to address all the issues concerning timber
industry for the benefit of all parties”

Roles & Functions

 Representing its members' and Sarawak’s interests in various national and international fora to promote
and uphold as prudently as possible the interests and well being of its Members and the timber trade and
industry in the State of Sarawak
 Organising and coordinating seminars, dialogues and trade delegations to Sarawak for the benefit of its
Members
 Promoting tropical timber from Sarawak through national and international exhibitions
 Promoting and improving the welfare of communities residing within the vicinity of the timber
concessions
 Facilitating educational visits and study attachments for both local and foreign students to learn about
Sarawak’s forestry and timber industry
 Promoting scientific and industrial research useful to the timber and forestry industry

Research & Development

STA, through the STA Forest Plantation Committee encourages research and development
projects that are beneficial to the forest plantation industry in Sarawak, and which could facilitate
the development of forest plantation to meet its target of 1 million hectares planted forests by year
2020. This funding shall support the Forest Plantation Industry in Sarawak particularly the Members
of STA through R&D that generate technical knowledge that addresses issues like shortage of
planting material, availability of quality seeds and propagation techniques for species selected for
plantation, tree improvement programme ; as well as processing and utilisation of timber from
planted forests.

Objectives of this R&D Funding:

a. To encourage R&D that could address the shortage of planting material i.e. quality seeds
and propagation techniques
b. To encourage R&D that could address the pests & diseases affecting and potentially affecting forest
plantation species
c. Other research that will help the development of the forest plantation industry and utilisation of the timber
from planted forests.

Interested applicants must submit a Research Proposal to STA together with the stipulated
supporting documents and information that may be required by STA. For more information on the
research funding application, please refer to the STA Terms & Conditions for Research and
Development (R&D) Funding.

List of Research Projects supported by STA

1. Basic and Working Properties of Juvenile Acacia mangium Timber for Products Development
(Sarawak Forestry Corporation, SFC)
- This project, with STA funding of RM 190, 000 for a period of three years (2012-2014),
was carried out by Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) which focuses on improved
utilisation and value-adding of juvenileAcacia mangium through systematic evaluation of
basic and working properties based on the International Tropical Timber Organization
(ITTO) harmonized testing methods for plantation-grown timbers.
2. Re-assessment of the conservation status of three genera of Dipterocarpaceae (Dipterocarpus,
Dryobalanops and Shorea) in Sarawak
- This research project, with STA funding of RM518, 000 for 3 years, was carried out by
Sarawak Forestry Corporation (SFC) to assess the conservation status, geographical
distributions, population and threats of the three (3) genera of dipterocarps in Sarawak
after 113 species from this three genera were listed in the Red List of Threatened
Species in 2007. The result for this project will help members of STA in efforts to
conserve threated species in Sarawak.
3. Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Discovery through Transcriptome Sequencing and
Association Mapping of Kelampayan (University of Malaysia Sarawak, UNIMAS)
- This research project with a grant amounting to RM400,000.00 over a period of 3 years
(March 2013 - February 2016), hopes to establish linkages between gene markers (i.e.
SNP) and favourable traits of Kelampayan through association mapping or genomics-
assisted breeding coupled with the next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. This
will reduce the time of the breeding cycle required for tree improvements, thereby
reducing costs, and accelerating the production of elite Kelampayan clones into market
without any genetic modification.
4. Ecosystem Approach towards Formulation of a Biofertilizer Containing Growth-Enhancing
Rhizospheric Microorganisms for Silviculture of Neolamarckia cadamba and Eucalyptus
pellita (Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, SUTS)
- This research project with a grant amounting to RM582,420.00 over a period of 42 months
(January 2015 - June 2018), hopes to identify and isolate the rhizosphere microorganism
from soil that can be used to formulate biofertilizer to enhance the growth of the two
species of trees.

Office Bearers, Category Chairman & Council Members

STA Office Bearers for the year 2016 and 2017
Chairman YBhg Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik
YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Sir Tiong Hiew King
Vice Chairmen YBhg Tan Sri Datuk Ling Chiong Ho
Honorary Secretary YBhg Dato Henry Lau Lee Kong
Honorary Treasurer Mr Philip Choo Kwong Hui

Category Chairman & Council Members

Ms Wong Haw Ing, Audrey

(Category Chairman)
Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Datuk Lau Hieng Wui, Jimmy
Y. Bhg. Temenggong Dato Lau Lee Ming, Vincent
Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Datuk Sir Tiong Hiew King
Y. Bhg. Dato’ Tiong Ing
Y. Bhg. Pemanca Datuk Wong Kie Yik
Mr Ho Yam Kuan, James
Ms Lau Kor Ping
Ms Lau Kor See, Adeline
Mr Ling Chai Hoe
Mr Ling Lu Kuang
Mr Yaw Chee Chik

Log Marketing
Y. Bhg. Dato’ Sri Law Kiu Kiong
(Category Chairman)
Y. Bhg. Dato Lau Lee Kong, Henry
Y. Bhg. Tan Sri Datuk Ling Chiong Ho
Mr Cheng Hwa Tang, Desmond
Mr Lau Ching Hoo, Joseph
Mr Lau Puong Ying
Mr Law Hui Kong, Kenny
Mr Ling Ting Sie
Mr Ling Uong Chong
Mr Ting Jack Hui
Mr Tsen Teck Fen

Hill Logging
Mr Philip Choo Kwong Hui
(Category Chairman)
Mr Ting Kai Hoon

Swamp Logging
Ms Wong Haw Bing, Annie
(Category Chairman)
Y.Bhg. Dato’ Tai Cheong, James
Mr Lau Ngi Chong
Mr Lau Swee Nguong
Ms Loretta Lau

Sawmilling
Mr Ling Lu Kiong, James
(Category Chairman)
Y.Bhg. Dato Sri Wong Haw Yeong, Patrick
Y.Bhg. Dato Wong Kuo Hea
Mr Lau Hui Siew, John
Mr Lau Lee Kiong, Stephen
Panel Products Mr Ling Chiong Sing
 Y. Bhg. Penghulu Law Buong Hoo
(Category Chairman)
Mr Tiong Chiong Chung

Moulding
Mr Yek Siew Liong
(Category Chairman)
Mr Yap Fui Fook

Furniture & Other Woodworking

Mr Hii Hium Ung, Stephen
(Category Chairman)
Mr Lau Tee Mei
Mr Teng Kheng Hong, Augustine
Mr Teng Kheng Huh, Patrick

Timber Products Marketing

Mr Ling Kwong Hung, Peter
(Category Chairman)
Y. Bhg. Datuk Amar Haji Abdul Hamed Haji Sepawi
Mr Ling Chii Huo
Mr Tiong Chiong Ong
Forest Plantation

Past Chairmen


Past Chairmen

1971 - 1974 - The late Datuk Ting Ing Mieng

1974 - 1975 - The late Datuk Amar James Wong Kim Min

1975 - 1976 - The late Mr Yao Ping Choon

1976 - 1981 - The late Datuk Ting Ming Hoi

1981 - 1982 - Datuk Hii Yu Ho

1982 - 1983 - Mr Pui Chin Jang

1983 - 1984 - Mr Joseph Ting Kwang Kwong

1984 - 1985 - Tan Sri Datuk Sir Tiong Hiew King

1985 - 1986 - Mr Pui Chin Jang

1986 - 2002 - The late Dato Sri (Dr.) Lau Hui Kang
 2002 - 2008 - Datuk Leo Chai

STA Exhibition Centre



STA Exhibition Centre (STAEC) was established to showcase products and work done by its
members and forestry-related Government Agencies. It also serves as an education and promotion
focal point for information related to the forest and timber industry in Sarawak. The Centre was
officially declared open by YAB Pehin Sri (Dr.) Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud on 16 May 2005, the then Chief
Minister of Sarawak.

The Centre has physical exhibits, information kiosks and electronic displays to show pictorial
information and videos of forests, biodiversity, upstream and downstream forestry activities. The
Centre also has two Multimedia and Research Information Assistant (MARIA) Terminals which
allow researchers to access more than 10 years worth of statistics, data and relevant documents.
The Centre’s twelve computer servers are being constantly updated with new information ensuring
that it is up to date.
The Centre takes up 460m2 of Level 4 in Wisma STA and is open to the public free of charge.

Subsidiary company: STA training, mutual, enterprises, ventures Sdn.Bhd

STA Sustainable Forest Management (STASFM) Programme –
Continuing Education
As part of the Postgraduate programme offered jointly by STA and Lincoln University of New
Zealand, the subject “Reduced Impact Logging Systems” will be delivered from 8 to 15 October
2016 at Deramakot, Sandakan.
The topics included in this subject are as follows:
1. Certification systems
2. Reduced Impact Logging (RIL)
3. Environmental auditing
4. Assessment requirements and documentation
5. Assessment of materials for field locations
6. Managing a certified forest

Members of STA who wish to further their knowledge in this subject are welcome to attend it on a
Continuing Education basis (i.e. single subject only). As this course will be conducted outside
Kuching for a whole week, participation in this subject shall be limited on “first-come, first-served”
basis. No fees will be charged for attending this subject but participant shall be responsible for
travel to the venue of the course, accommodation and other travel-related expenses. Participant
is also required to bring laptop for data analysis study and field attire for field work during the whole
week of the course.
Those interested to attend this subject is kindly requested to contact the undersigned or Ms Suzie
Adee at 082-332222 before or by 30 September 2016.