Through its commitment to promoting sustainable forestry practices, the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) recently collaborated with KiniEvents for the second time to co-host the Youth Parliamentary Debathon at Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Penang. The event, officiated by MTCC CEO Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray, brought together 32 young debaters, aged 14 to 25, who addressed the question “Should Malaysia adopt a mandatory sustainable timber procurement policy for all public projects?” as they presented compelling arguments for and against the motion.
Chaired and moderated by Arief Ferdaus bin Azmi, Penang Youth Committee Chairman, the debathon saw youths passionately taking on opposing views to debate about sustainable timber procurement as well as the environmental consequences of deforestation.
Representing the government’s position, debater Manuel Jelian argued that a mandatory sustainable timber procurement policy would attract foreign investors and NGOs, who prefer sustainable public projects in Malaysia while often highlighting and boycotting unsustainable practices. “By adopting a mandatory sustainable timber procurement policy for all public projects, the risk of the Malaysian government facing backlash that could result in boycotts from foreign NGOs is reduced. It attracts foreign investors to Malaysian public projects, enhancing ethical practices and publicity, while fostering direct investment and infrastructure development for greener outcomes in the country,” said Manuel, who won the Best Debater of the session.
Opposition bench debater Shazea Qhadra countered, emphasising economic growth over mandatory policies. “We should prioritise economic growth and support businesses to ensure sustainable development. Instead of enforcing a mandatory timber procurement policy, we can promote voluntary eco-friendly practices that encourage innovation while allowing flexibility for projects to progress without unnecessary constraints,” she said.
Meanwhile, government bench debater Shameera Nasreen highlighted that a mandatory policy would strengthen law enforcement against illegal logging. “By adhering to the sustainability guidelines, a sustainable timber procurement policy will help to minimise illegal logging, a major cause for deforestation and forest degradation. It increases transparency and raises awareness, as it would encourage the supply chain to adopt sustainability, making it hard for illegal logs to enter the market,” said Shameera, who won the Most Popular Debater in this session.
However, opposition bench debater Tinesh Ravindran warned that mandatory policies could lead to inefficiencies and bureaucratic challenges, hindering local businesses. “We should implement a voluntary certification programme that encourages local suppliers to adhere to sustainable forestry practices. This approach promotes responsible sourcing while allowing flexibility and fostering community engagement in environmental stewardship,” he said.
MTCC CEO Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray praised the debaters for their well-founded points on both sides, highlighting how the discussion helped MTCC to gauge public awareness and views on the importance of green procurement and sustainable public projects. “I realised that MTCC has more to share to ensure that individuals like yourselves can access, critically analyse, and share information. Always read from good sources and fact-check, always criticise and analyse what you read because you are the younger generation and you have to fight for what is right,” she said.
As the operator of the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme, MTCC continues to advocate for sustainable forestry and responsible timber sourcing. Through initiatives like the Youth Parliamentary Debathon, MTCC aims to engage younger generations, encouraging them to critically evaluate policies impacting Malaysia’s sustainable future. MTCC looks forward to future collaborations with KiniEvents to further advance the conversation on sustainability, responsible timber sourcing, and sustainable forestry practices.
The Youth Parliamentary Debathon was organised by KiniEvents and Malaysiakini, in collaboration with Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC). This event is also co-organised by the MPP of Universiti Sains Malaysia. With great support from our venue partner, Universiti Sains Malaysia, soft skills training partner Malaysian Institute for Debate and Public Speaking, co-partner Institute for Research and Development of Policy, UNITEN, Uniten Debate and Oratory Society, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, GRASS Malaysia and Kloth Circularity.
