Upcoming Events     News Archive    Major Events

POSITION VACANT

STA Enterprises Sdn Bhd (STAE) is a wholly-owned company of the Sarawak Timber Association which owns and manages Wisma STA. The company is seeking a suitable individual to fill the following position:

ACCOUNTS OFFICER

The Company is looking for a dedicated, resourceful and energetic person to be responsible for administrative and financial matters required of STAE including looking after the accounting records, communicating with tenants in Wisma STA and assisting the Manager as and when required.Applicants for this position must:

• Possess at least a diploma in Accounting;
• Have a minimum two (2) years’ relevant working experience in maintaining full sets of accounts;
• Have good report writing skills and be fluent in English;
• Be computer literate. Knowledge in UBS would be considered an advantage; and
• Be bright and easy going personality.

Remuneration

The successful candidate will be offered an attractive package which will commensurate with his or her qualifications and working experience.

Interested candidates with the relevant qualifications and experience are invited to submit an application (indicating on the envelope ‘Application for the post of Accounts Officer STAE’) together with (1) detailed resume, (2) photocopy of academic qualification/training certificates, (3) a statement of expected monthly salary and (4) a recent passport size photograph (non-returnable) to:

Group Chief Executive Officer
STA Enterprises Sdn Bhd
11th Floor, Wisma STA
26, Jalan Datuk Abang Abdul Rahim
93450 Kuching, Sarawak

The closing date for application is 6 March 2012. Only short-listed candidates will be called for interview.
 

Date for the purpose of Article 8(e) of the Articles of Association of Sarawak Timber Association

The Council of STA resolved in its 78^th Meeting held on 20th October 2011 to call the Annual General Meeting of the members of the Association for this year 2012, on Friday, 30^th March 2012.

This year 2012, is an election year. The Effective Date for the purpose of Article 8(e) of the Articles of Association of Sarawak Timber Association has been fixed to fall on Thursday, 1^st March 2012 (at 5:00 p.m.).

Therefore and in accordance with Article 7(f), all members are advised to pay your outstanding subscription fees and all dues on or before 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, 1^st March 2012 to avoid being disqualified from being nominated as a candidate for election as a Council member AND to be entitled to vote at the AGM on 30^th March 2012.

Scholarship for 3^rd Cohort of Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science (Sustainable Tropical Forest Management)

The Sarawak Timber Association is inviting applications from Sarawakians for a full scholarship to study in the third cohort of the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science (Sustainable Tropical Forest Management). The degree covers a broad range of areas important to managing forests sustainably. The degree is offered on a part time basis over 3 years, with students required to attend 6 one-week teaching blocks each year. The degree is fully conducted by Lincoln University of New Zealand in Kuching, Sarawak.

Applicants should have a degree from a recognized university. Persons with significant experience in the forestry or timber industries who do not have a degree are also eligible to apply. A good command of both spoken and written English is required. Email or fax an application letter, a curriculum vitae, and certified copies of academic transcripts (where applicable) and either a birth certificate or a passport to sta@sta.org.my or fax to 082 487 888 before 29 February 2012. For more information, please contact STA at 082-332 222

Download Course Brochures and Application form

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science (Sustainable Tropical Forest Management)
STA Sustainable Forest Manager
Application for Admission to Postgraduate Study Domestic and International students

Invitation to Participate in Sarawak Timber Selling Missions and Exhibitions

STA received a letter from STIDC informing us that STIDC will be organising the following activities: -

The detailed itinerary for Item (iii) and (iv) are available from the STA Secretariat.

The objectives of the above Missions/Exhibitions are to provide participants with the opportunity to strengthen and establish bilateral trade rapport with existing and potential buyers and end-users as well as to promote and increase sales of other species and products in the market of India, China and Korea. The Missions include seminars, individual business meetings and factory visits.

The delegation will be led by YB Datuk Amar Haji Awang Tengah Ali Hassan, Second Minister of &Resource Management Sarawak cum Chairman of STIDC Board.

A registration fee of RM500/pax/Mission is required by STIDC and another RM500/pax/Mission is required by the appointed travel agency. 

Biometric Registration of Legal Foreign Workers

The registration of legal foreign workers will be carried out in Sarawak on 1-14 August 2011. Datu Robert Lian sought the full cooperation and support from employers in the State to register their legal foreign workers within the 14 days as the two-week period would not be extended. 29 static stations, 59 mobile teams and 118 officers have been assigned for the registration exercise, of which 88 officers are in Kuching, 10 in Sibu, 10 in Bintulu and 10 in Miri.

For companies that have more than 500 foreign workers, the Department can arrange for the registration to be done at their premise or factory. They can contact the nearest Immigration Office to arrange a suitable time for the registration. However, employers have to bear the transportation and other related costs incurred by the mobile team from Immigration Department for this service.

Please download the following information required for the registration of legal foreign workers.

Economic Census 2011

The Department of Statistics is currently conducting the Economic Census (EC) 2011 to collect relevant data on the industry. EC is conducted every 5 years and the last EC was conducted in 2006 for the reference year 2005.

EC 2011 will cover all economic activities in the country, with the objectives of obtaining a comprehensive and detailed information on the structure of the economy which will be used in the formulation of national development plans and economic policies, to update the SME database and compile relevant statistics as well as to assist companies/businesses to plan their business development strategies. Information to be collected from companies/businesses are as listed below:-

 Economic activity and company profile
 Income from sales of goods and services
 Purchase of goods, materials and industrial services
 Value of assets
 Characteristics of employment and salaries & wages
 Sources of financing and access to credit
 Innovation, marketing & promotion

Under Statistics Act 1965(Revised 1989), Section 5, requires all establishments operating in Malaysia to provide actual information or best estimates to the Department. The Act stipulates that the contents of the individual returns are CONFIDENTIAL and will not be divulged to any person or institution outside this Department.

EC questionnaires were sent through mail to companies/businesses that registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia in the month of June 2011. Members are advised to complete the above mentioned EC questionnaires and return to the Department.

If members have yet to receive the EC questionnaires, the questionnaires can be downloaded online at the Department website at www.statistics.gov.my. For any further enquiries, please contact Puan Aishah Mohd Ali or Mr Awang Shukeri from Department of Statistics, Sarawak at 082-240 287 or email to banciekonomi@stats.gov.my.

The internal compliance program under the Strategic Trade Act 2011
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry Malaysia (MITI) has requested STA to disseminate to members the internal compliance program under the Strategic Trade Act 2011.

The Strategic Trade Act 2010 has been published in the government gazette on 10 June 2010 and its Regulations and Orders on 31 December 2011. The Act had been implemented on 1 April 2011.

The Act provides for control over the export, transhipment, transit and brokering of strategic items, including arms and related material, and other activities that will or may facilitate the design, development and production of weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems. The export permits available under the Act are single-use, bulk, multiple-use and special permit.

An Internal Compliance Program (ICP) is a prerequisite for Malaysian companies that wish to avail themselves of bulk and multiple-use permits under the Act. The ICP is a set of procedures that companies must satisfy before export and transhipment activities being taken to ensure that the transactions satisfy the export control regulations enacted by the government.

The ICP is a commitment taken by companies to voluntarily support the authorities by ensuring that internal controls and procedures are in place that safeguards the companies from being taken advantage by proliferators of weapons of mass destruction.

The ICP guideline and checklist for company to apply for bulk and multiple-use permits can be downloaded from here

MWIA Office Bearers for the Period of 2011 to 2013

The Malaysian Wood Industries Association (MWIA) held its 46th Annual Genral Meeting on 4 March 2011. The following were elected to serve on the Board of MWIA for the period of 2011 to 2013.

President : Dato' Low Kian Chuan

Vice President : Mr Pon Chia Hwee

Mr Saw Eng Thai

Honorary Secretary General : Mr Goh Chee Yew

Hon Assistant Sec General : Dato' Chung King Tong

Hon Treasurer : Mr Simon Ong Aik Lin

Hon Assistant Treasurer : Mr Low Chee Hock

Public Relation Officer : Mr Lau Tiam Siah

Adviser : YAM Tunku Osman Ahmad

Dato' Leow Boke Chooi

Nomination For Skills Training

The legislation, Section 54B Forests (Amendment) Ordinance, 2001, requiring all Logging Companies (as Employers) to hire only properly trained workmen to carry out any forestry activity (including harvesting operations) was passed by the State Legislative Assembly at its sitting on 31 October 2001. Since then, STA has been working with the State Government through Forest Department Sarawak, to design and implement an integrated training system for the State. The Association has been verbally informed that the above Section of the Ordinance may be enforced as from 1 July 2011 for the forestry activities listed below:

 Certificate in Tree Felling
 Certificate in Log Extraction (Tractor)
 Certificate in Log Loading (Rubber-tyred Front-end Log Loader)
 Certificate in Clear-fell Site preparation
 Certificate in Mechanical Site Preparation (Excavator)

STA members are invited to nominate potential candidates, preferably full time staff and with relevant work experience and hands-on skills to undergo training in the above skills sets. Basically, all these skills sets will cover health and safety, first aid, environment issues, maintenance of machine, operators responsibilities as well as job planning. Trainees will also be taken out to the field for practical sessions.

Member companies are also invited to nominate candidates for training in the skills sets listed below:

 Tree & Log Identification Skills Set
 Log & Timber Identification Skills Set

For more information, please contact Dr Peter Kho or Ms Melinda Chai of STA Training Sdn. Bhd. at 082-332222.
 

STA Enterprises Sdn Bhd (STAE) Vacancy

STA Enterprises Sdn Bhd (STAE) is a wholly-owned company of the Sarawak Timber Association which owns and manages Wisma STA. The company is seeking a suitable individual to fill the following position:

ACCOUNTS OFFICER

The Company is looking for a dedicated, resourceful and energetic person to be responsible for administrative and financial matters required of STAE including looking after the accounting records, communicating with tenants in Wisma STA and assisting the Manager as and when required. Read More

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science (Sustainable Tropical Forest Management) and STA Sustainable Forest Manager Programme

Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science (STFM) Course - 3^rd Cohort

STA is working with State agencies, principally the Forest Department and Sarawak Forestry Corporation to offer training and to certify appropriately trained persons to be " Sustainable Forestry Personnel" to oversee all forest operations in accordance with the laws and guidelines set for sustainable forest management.

The training programme for such a person is incorporated into a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science (Sustainable Tropical Forest Management) course to be run in association with Lincoln University of New Zealand. The Postgraduate Diploma is designed for on-the-job training, based on block release. The Postgraduate Diploma consists of eighteen (18) subjects offered over three years. Each subject will be taught in Kuching over a one-week period. Participants must pass all eighteen subjects to be awarded the Postgraduate Diploma by Lincoln University.

All teaching costs involved in the Postgraduate Diploma will be borne by STA Training Sdn Bhd. However, the STAT Board has decided to require a RM5,000 "Commitment Fee" for each participant in the third cohort of the degree. The fee will be refundable upon a student attending all subjects. It is important to note that the application for admission to the degree does not commit a student to enrolling in the degree or payment of this fee. Any fees, if any, will only be required when enrolling in subjects. Candidates may withdraw without penalty or payment before the courses start if they decide if the Commitment Fee is too high. The fee and how much it will be are still under discussion, and the final form and magnitude may change. It is important that all interested persons apply for admission now as this may influence any changes. In addition, you will need to pay for the travel cost to Kuching, room and board in Kuching of your participants.

Please contact Dr Peter CS Kho/ Ms Suzie Adee for more information and clarification at 082 - 332 222 or download the following brochures for more information on the course. All nominees must fill in the expression of interest form and bring it during the briefing. Briefing details

Download course information:
Postgraduate Diploma (568kb)
STA Sustainable Forest Manager (613kb)

Download Expression of Interest Form:
Expression of Interest Form (35kb)

Forest (First Schedule to the Ordinance)(Amendment) Rules, 2010 - Rate Of Royalty For Logs For The Year 2011
The Sarawak Timber Association (STA) have received a letter from Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) ref DF.93.13 (Jld.8)  37 dated 10 January 2011 stating that the rate of royalty for logs under the First Schedule of the Forests Ordinance [Section 52(2)] for the year 2011 onwards is Single (flat) rate of RM65.00 per m3 in round or RM130.00 per m³ converted.

10^th Malaysian Plan - Working Capital Guarantee Scheme Facility (WCGS)
The 10^th Malaysian Plan (10MP) Working Capital Guarantee Scheme Facility (WCGS) offered by Syarikat Jaminan Pembiayaan Perniagaan Berhad (SJPP) is now opened for application.

SJPP is a company wholly owned by the Minister of Finance Inc. SJPPs role is to administer and manage the guarantee scheme namely WCGS as announced by the Ministry of Finance in the Dewan Rakyat under the second stimulus package on 10 March 2009. The stimulus package is to enhance foreign and domestic investors confidence in the Malaysian Economy.

The Government has allocated an additional RM3.0 billion to WCGS under the 10th Malaysian Plan. It is the desire and hope of the Government that by providing such guarantee, financial institutions will continue to provide financing facilities to viable Small and Medium Enterprise (SMEs) companies to spur further economic growth.

Members are encouraged to apply financing under WCGS from financial institutions. For application and more information, please log on to www.sjpp.com.my