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History of STA

It all started on 7th August 1971 when an inaugural meeting was held at No. 6 Kampung Nyabor Road, Sibu between representatives from three associations, namely the Sarawak 1st and 2nd 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 7th August 1971

The meeting convened to explore the possibility of establishing a body to look after the timber industry's interest. Quoting a phrase made by the Meeting Chairman, 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 as regards 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 appropriated as this body was meant to serve others apart from the sawmilling industry. Eventually, the meeting unanimously agreed to name this body as "Sarawak Timber Association".

On 7th December 1971, the Registrar of Societies approved Sarawak Timber Association, or STA, in short, as a legal body with registration number of 66/71 (Sarawak). According to its Constitution at that time, membership was open only to timber association, not individual timber company which is registered in Sarawak.

First Committee Members of Sarawak Timber Association

Fifteen years later, members felt a need to re-structure STA to incorporate members directly from all the existing individualised timber associations so that there is, overall, only one timber association. It was felt that this would promote better relationship and rapport with the various Authorities as well as the State Government.

With the full support and encouragement from the Chief Minister of Sarawak, YAB Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud, as well as the Sarawak Timber Industry Development Corporation (STIDC) and the Sarawak Forest Department, an Extraordinary General Meeting of STA was held on 22 October 1985. This meeting was to initial some discussion on the matter. It was then resolved to appoint a special committee led by Datuk Lau Hui Kang and comprising of the following persons to study the finer details and eventually produce out with proposals for a restructure:

Dr Philip Ling Lee Kang
Mr. Wong Kie Yik
Mr. Thomas Song
Mr. Wong C. T. A

General Meeting of STA was held on 4 August 1988 where all existing five members, namely the Sarawak 1st and 2nd Divisions Sawmillers' Association, the Fourth & Fifth Divisions Timber Merchants' Association (formerly known as Fourth Division Timber Merchants' Association), and the Third, Sixth and Seventh Divisions & Bintulu District Sawmillers' Association (formerly known as the Third Division and Bintulu District Sawmillers' Association), the Timber Industry Employers' Association, and the Timber Exporters' Association, agreed to dissolve their associations. This allowed their members to join STA directly.

This complicated restructuring exercise was completed when the Registrar of Societies approved its Memorandum and Articles of Association on 20 September 1988.

STA was originally located in Sibu. On May 1988, STA shifted its Secretariat Office to the tenth Floor of the Wisma Sumber Alam, Kuching. Since the shift to Kuching, more secretariat staff was employed to provide better service to members.

In a historical move on 15th October 2000, STA shifted to its own building, Wisma STA.

Past Chairmen