Malaysia's Timber Colony
Exposing Malaysia's Grip Over Papua New Guinea's Forests
Logging companies mentioned in this document:
- ALLIED SUCCESS INTERNATIONAL (PNG) LIMITED
- RIMBUNAN HIJAU (PNG) LIMITED
- VANIMO JAYA LIMITED
- KK CONNECTIONS LIMITED
- WILLSMART INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
- KERAWARA LIMITED
- MEKAR (PNG) LIMITED
- ALBRIGHT LIMITED
- WESTENDERS LIMITED
- BRILLIANT INVESTMENT LIMITED
- KULAWOOD LIMITED
- ASET MERIAH PNG LIMITED
- MILLENNIUM CORPORATION LIMITED
- MATUFI (PNG) LIMITED
- ORO WOOD INDUSTRY LIMITED
- NORTHERN FOREST PRODUCTS LIMITED
- MUSA CENTURY LIMITED
- TZEN NIUGINI LIMITED
- CAKARA ALAM (PNG) LTD.
- LUCKY 99 (PNG) LIMITED
- LUCKY LOGGING LIMITED
- WASU RESOURCE LIMITED
- TIAN SUYN LIMITED
- MATRIX DEVELOPMENT LIMITED
- SUMMIT AGRICULTURE LIMITED
- GLOBAL ELITE LIMITED
- CONTINENTAL ALLIANCE LIMITED
- STAR AVENUE LIMITED
- GK AGRICULTURE SDN BHD
- WEWAK AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT LTD
- TOP LEAP HOLDINGS LIMITED
- SAMAS LIMITED
- MEKAR HARVEST (PNG) LIMITED
- BEWANI FOREST PRODUCTS LTD
- JAMBO TRAK LIMITED
- PACIFIC GREEN FOREST LIMITED
- PJ PLANTATIONS LIMITED
- PINA KIPA RURAL FARMERS LIMITED
- SUNLAND LIMITED
- TANGOY VIVAFOUNDER HOLDINGS LIMITED
- EMO HOLDINGS LTD
- MAXLAND (PNG) LIMITED
- JOINLAND PNG LIMITED
- TUTUMAN DEVELOPMENT LTD
- ISLANDS FOREST LIMITED
- MILLIONPLUS CORPORATION LIMITED
- K L CONNECTIONS LIMITED
- LALOANI NO. 8 LIMITED
- GREENPOINT LIMITED
- TZEN PLANTATION LIMITED
- GILFORD LIMITED
- MANTORRAS PNG LIMITED
- PL CONNECTION LIMITED
- PANAKOL LIMITED
- TARAIWARA PTY. LIMITED
- MILTON LIMITED
- NOBLE INVESTMENTS LIMITED
Concessions mentioned in this document:
- Abeda
- Begere
- Tufi Wanigela
- Ifane (Block 1)
- Wanigela
- Lower Musa Agro
- Ifane (Block 2)
- Wanigela Tree Plantation
- Semon (Cattle Farm)
- Wasu (Cattle Farm)
- Woodlark Island
- Woodlark Integrated Project
- Yuke
- Angoram (Marienberg Hills)
- Meander May Valley
- Angoram Intergrated FCA
- Wewak Turubu
- Wagana Wagasu Large scale
- Gweinif Wagasu
- Aitape East
- Bewani
- Schotchaio / Schotiacho
- Walsa
- Idam-Saiwi Inter Agri Proj
- Aitape West
- Wammy
- Pohowa
- East West Patpatar
- (Central) New Hanover
- Central New Hanover
- Konoagil
- Moile Integrated Agriculture
- Toriu Headwaters
- Dengnenge 'A' Int. Agric Project
- Makolkol
- Dengnenge B Agro Forestry
- Ania Integrated Agri
- Lote Kamlang
- Utnari Land Agro-Forestry
- Illi Wawas Roadline
- Illi Wawas (Masarau)
- Mengen Integrated
- Illi Standalone
- Suikol Makolkol
- Sigite Mukus
- Inland Lassul Baining
- Suikol
- Taraiwara (Ext) Agro Reforestation
- Illi Wawas
- Taraiwara
- Morevona-Agro Forestry
- Agulu Reserve
- Lolobao (Island)
- Pakalua Agri. Forestry
REPORT
Malaysia's Timber
Colony:
Exposing Malaysia’s
Grip Over Papua New
Guinea’s Forests
October 2025
rimbawatch
© RimbaWatch 2024
2 For holistic reading on issues related to Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs) in Papua New Guinea, this report is intended to be read in conjunction with FCA case studies published by Act Now. Disclaimer: This report has been prepared in good faith on the basis of information available at the date of publication. The authors do not guarantee that all information is complete: readers are responsible for assessing the relevance and accuracy of the content of this publication. The authors will not be liable for any loss, damage, cost or expense incurred or arising by reason of any person using or relying on information in this publication. The authors do not make accusations towards any shareholders, directors of any organisation, any organisation as a whole, or any individual, for wrongdoing. Unless otherwise stated, all photos are property of RimbaWatch, Bruno Manser Fonds or Canva stock. Unless otherwise stated, satellite images are sourced from Google Earth (Maxar TechnologiesLandsat / CopernicusCNES / Airbus) or © 2025 Planet Labs PBC accessed 2025. Citation: RimbaWatch, Bruno Manser Fonds and Papua New Guinea Environmental Alliance (2025). Malaysia’s Timber Colony: Exposing Malaysia’s Grip Over Papua New Guinea’s Forests. RimbaWatch: Kuala Lumpur. _________________________ About RimbaWatch RimbaWatch is an environmental think-tank conducting research and advocacy on climate-related issues in the Maritime Southeast Asian region. rimbawatchmy.com admin@rimbawatch.com About the Bruno Manser Fonds The Bruno Manser Fonds strives for the protection of the tropical rainforests and for the respect of the rights of the peoples of the rainforest in Malaysia and Papua New Guinea. www.bmf.ch info@bmf.ch About the Papua New Guinea Environmental Alliance (PNGEA) The PNGEA provides a unified platform for Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to raise their concerns and drive coordinated work and advocacy on environmental issues and sustainable livelihoods in Papua New Guinea. pngenvalliance@gmail.com
Report | Exposing Malaysia’s Grip Over Papua New Guinea’s Forests 3 Executive Summary Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a major exporter of tropical logs worldwide. This report investigates the role of Malaysian companies and individuals in large-scale forest clearance in PNG through the misuse of Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs). Despite a 2023 moratorium on new FCA licences, widespread deforestation and human rights abuses persist. At least 1.68 million hectares of rainforest are under threat from FCA licenses, an area equal to Sarawak’s existing oil palm landbank, or equal to the size of Eswatini. Of these forests, 88% are classified as ‘undisturbed forests’, and their conversion will release a combined 277.35 million tCO2e. Additionally, 175,173 hectares within FCA areas can now be spatially classified as non-forest, representing an area twice the size of Singapore, indicating the scale of conversion occurring within licensed areas. Analysis reveals that 65 of 67 FCA licences are controlled by Malaysian-linked companies, covering 97% of all FCA licenses. Some of the 79 Malaysian-linked individuals identified have faced allegations of illegal logging, fraud, and other misconduct, and are connected to politically influential families and major Sarawak-based logging firms. Case studies show a recurring pattern: FCA projects promise agriculture but focus primarily on timber extraction, often without delivering viable farming operations. These activities frequently occur on customary land without free, prior and informed consent (FPIC) of landowners, undermining Indigenous rights and livelihoods. Transparency remains poor, with key spatial and commodity data largely inaccessible. Key recommendations call for urgent action by both the PNG and Malaysian governments, international agencies, financiers, and timber buyers. For PNG: Suspend round log exports from FCA areas pending an independent inquiry; extend the FCA moratorium; publish audit findings; establish a public register of timber operations; and pursue potential criminal violations with support from international enforcement bodies. For Malaysia: The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission should investigate whether companies obtained concessions through illicit means, breached laws, or engaged in tax and money-laundering offences. The Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) should accelerate the operationalisation of the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, addressing overseas operations of Malaysian companies through a Supply Chain Act, with strong penalties for violations. Anti-SLAPP laws must be introduced to protect Indigenous defenders and civil society actors. For the financial sector: Regulators such as Bank Negara Malaysia and financial institutions to investigate whether financed entities violate anti-money laundering and tax regulations, and financial institutions should apply stringent No Deforestation, Peat, or Exploitation (NDPE) standards to future financing.
4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary 3
Key Terms 5
Forestry in Papua New Guinea: No. 1 tropical log exporter worldwide 6
Forest Clearing Authorities: An Introduction 8
Forest Clearing Authorities and Special Agricultural Business Leases 8
Forest Clearing Authorities Today 9
9
Methodology
Findings 12-34
#1: FCA Licenses Threaten Nearly Two Million Hectares of Rainforest 12
#2: 97% of FCA Licenses Are Linked to Malaysia 15
#3: 79 Malaysians, Some Controversial, Involved in FCA Licenses 25
#4: Association with Sarawakian Timber Dynasties 32
#5: Significant Human Rights Abuses Have Arisen In These FCAs 34
Conclusions and Recommendations 37-39
Bibliography 41-43
Appendices 45-55
5
KEY TERMS
Key Abbreviations
AG Auditor General
Clear-felling Complete removal of trees from a particular area.
Customary Land Land owned under traditional laws by local communities.
Environmental Impact Assessment An evaluation process to assess the environmental implications of
(EIA) proposed projects.
FPIC Free Prior Informed Consent
FCA Forest Clearing Authority – A license issued for large-scale forest
clearing tied to agricultural development.
PNG Papua New Guinea
PNGFA Papua New Guinea Forest Authority
MACC Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
Special Agricultural and Business A controversial land lease system for large-scale agricultural
Lease (SABL) developments
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 6
Forestry in Papua New Guinea: The No. 1 tropical log
exporter worldwide.
Papua New Guinea (PNG) is one of the planet’s most vital biodiversity hotspots. Together with Indonesian-
governed Papua, it forms the world’s third-largest tropical rainforest, surpassed only by the Amazon and Congo
Basin. Covering approximately 28.2 million hectares, PNG’s rainforests represent a critical bastion of biodiversity
and carbon storage. (CBD, n.d).
This unique forest is under threat. At least 2.9 million hectares—roughly 15% of PNG’s rainforest—have already
been degraded, and deforestation is ongoing (CBD, n.d.). In 2024, 2.5 million m3 of roundwood, representing 25%
of the world's tropical round log exports, came from Papua New Guinea. Political measures such as the 2023
moratorium on new Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs) licences had almost no impact on these staggering export
volumes, which remained nearly unchanged from 2.54 million cubic meters in 2023. (ITTO, 2023-2024). It must be
noted, however, that the figure of 2.5 million m3 for 2024, derived from the ITTO, is higher than the 1.89 million m3
figure on the PNGi database (PNGi, 2025). The hotspots of the current logging activities in PNG are the provinces
of West and East New Britain and West Sepik (SGS, 2025: 31).
China is the country that benefits most from timber
from Papua New Guinea. Ninety per cent of timber
from PNG is exported to China, where it is processed
and exported to other markets. (ITTO, 2025: 11).
This report reveals a widespread system of exploitation
of PNG's timber resources by foreign companies. Most
of these companies originate from Malaysia or have
close ties to that country, particularly timber
companies based in Sarawak, which are often
organised as family businesses. Malaysian timber
tycoons play a key role in the timber business in PNG
as this report shows.
Major tropical log exporters worldwide (2022-2024)
Graphic reproduced from: International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Biennial review and assessment of
the world timber situation, 2023-2024, p. 12, 74-77. Figures for Solomon Islands are only for the year 2023
available.
Starting their logging activities in PNG more than thirty years ago, Malaysian-linked companies turned the country
into the world's largest exporter of tropical roundwood within a very short time. Since 2013, PNG has been the
world's largest exporter of tropical timber (ITTO, 2015: 11), overtaking Malaysia, which had been the largest
exporter for 30 years until only 10% of its primary forests remained.
In using the term ‘Malaysia's timber colony’, this report refers to the Malaysian business families who previously
destroyed Malaysia's forests that are now acquiring land abroad, especially in Papua New Guinea, destroying
rainforests and transferring profits to their home countries, while leaving behind ecological, social and economic
damage. The report focuses in particular on FCAs, as they are a major cause of deforestation in PNG and are
largely controlled by Malaysian families. There are serious doubts about the legality of FCAs, and several
examples in this report clearly show that FCAs are not bringing about the claimed development in the region, but
are primarily serving to promote deforestation.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 7 Major tropical log trade. PNG and Solomon Islands account for 40% of the exports worldwide. Map reproduced from: ITTO, International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), Biennial review and assessment of the world timber situation, 2023-2024, p. 11.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 8 Forest Clearing Authorities: An Introduction Logging in Papua New Guinea is regulated by the Forestry Act of 1991 (amended in 1993, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2007 and 2010 [PNGFA, n.d]) and overseen by the PNG Forest Authority (PNGFA), which is responsible for issuing logging licenses across different concession categories (ActNow, 2023b). The Forestry Act Act defines three categories of concessions. These are: Forest Management Agreements (FMAs), which provide the PNGFA with long-term rights for forest management under a contract between customary landowners and the PNGFA, primarily for selective logging. Timber Authorities (TAs), which are small-scale timber activities, defined as removal of less than 5,000 cubic meters of timber, clearance of less than 50 hectares of forest for land-use change, establishment of a roadline of less than 12.5km in length, or the removal of non-timber forest productions. Forest Clearing Authorities (FCAs), introduced by an amendment in 2000, which is issued for: “the purpose of large-scale conversion of natural forest to areas that are designated for agricultural or other land- use development projects in excess of 50 hectares”. The PNGFA (n.d [b]) defines two types of FCAs: Agricultural FCAs, which are “to carry out a Large-Scale conversion of Forest to Agriculture or other Land-use Development where the amount of Proposed Clearance of Natural Forest is greater than 50 Hectares in total.” Road Construction FCAs, “to carry out a Large-Scale conversion of Forest to Road Development over an existing forested area where the Proposed Road will be greater than 12.5 kilometers in length.” The PNGFA stipulates three main requirements for applying for an FCA, which includes 1) a public hearing by the Department of Agriculture and Livestock, 2) an approved Environment Permit, and 3) Landowner consent through Form 267 of the Forestry Regulations 1998. Forest Clearing Authorities and Special Agricultural and Business Leases As the requirements under the PNGFA stipulate, a concrete intention to convert a forest area into an agricultural project is a key component of the FCA approval process. Upon its introduction into the Forestry Act in 2000, FCAs were granted to holders of Special Agricultural and Business Leases (SABLs), to provide a legal framework for the conversion of large forest areas into agricultural projects. The concept of an SABL was introduced in the Land Act 1996. The SABL scheme allowed for customary landowners to lease land to the State, who would sublease it to a nominated group for agriculture development and management. In theory, under this scheme customary landowners would be provided with a title to enter into agricultural projects. However, the majority of SABL schemes involved direct subleases to private companies for 99-year leases without subsequent rights to customary landowners. Once provided with an SABL, companies could then apply for an FCA under the expectation that they would establish agricultural plantations on the cleared land (Act Now, 2023b)
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 9 After widespread documentation of fraudulent consent processes, environmental and human rights abuses in the SABL process, the Papua New Guinean government, in 2011, established a Commission of Inquiry (COI) into SABLs. Amongst other findings, this commission found that the vast majority of SABLs did not attain consent from customary landowners, only a minority of SABLs had valid FCAs, and 42 out of 46 SABLs were reported to require revocation because they were acquired without proper due diligence (COISABL, 2013). In 2013, the Commission recommended that all SABLs be cancelled. The COI reports were tabled in 2014 and the National Executive Council (NEC) recommended that the illegal SABLs be revoked and nullified, however, the NEC recommendation was not implemented by relevant authorities. As of 2022, only nine out of 75 leases had been cancelled (ActNow, 2022). Further, it has been reported that the PNGFA had continued to issue FCAs in SABLs as recently as 2014 (Act Now and War on Want, 2018: 22). Forest Clearing Authorities Today The issuance of FCAs is a major driver of deforestation and human rights violations in Papua New Guinea today. As of 2024, there are 24 still-active FCAs, and logs from FCAs account for 1/3rd of Papua New Guinea’s log exports. In 2022 alone, more than 1 million cubic meters of logs were exported from FCAs (Act Now, 2022). In 2023, 39% of exported logs came from FCAs (SGS, 2024: 4). Unsurprisingly, as there is significant overlap between SABLs and FCAs, similar governance, social and environmental problems have been documented for FCAs. A series of reports by ActNow PNG have established that numerous FCAs have failed to obtain free, prior, informed consent (FPIC) from local landowners and communities and have failed to produce credible agricultural plans or establish agricultural projects, allowing FCA holders to bypass logging restrictions. Due to these concerns, in February 2023 the PNGFA announced a moratorium on issuing new FCA licenses for 12 months - a ban which still stood as of November 2024, pending a review of existing projects (Act Now, 2024). The involvement of Malaysian business people and companies in the timber industry in Papua New Guinea has been well-documented since the 1990s. A 2022 report by ActNow PNG identified that only ten clusters of companies were responsible for 70% of round log exports from Papua New Guinea. Act Now identified that each of these groups were “strongly linked to Malaysia, either through direct links to Sarawak-based logging and palm oil conglomerates or other Malaysian individuals and business interests”. Methodology This comprehensive review aims to complement existing reports establishing the links between Malaysian business people and companies and deforestation in Papua New Guinea. Due to the broad range of environmental issues related to the timber industry in Papua New Guinea, this review aims to limit its scope of analysis to large-scale forest conversion in Papua New Guinea. While the 2011 Commission recommended a cancellation of all SABLs, the cancellation process has been delayed and opaque, and the extent of overlap between active FCAs and SABLs is unknown. Therefore, instead of focusing on SABLs, the focus of this review is to study FCAs, as they remain a consistent indicator of forest conversion in Papua New Guinea. This review exposes the links between Malaysian business people and companies and FCAs in Papua New Guinea. This review defines FCAs as the 67 licenses documented in the PNGi FCA database at publication date, including the Loani Bwanabwana FCA, which is not in the PNGi database.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 10 To identify links between FCAs and Malaysia, this review analysed the individuals or entities with ownership (through shares) and directorship of every FCA license holder listed in the PNGi database. This review is conducted at both the parent company and contractor level. Data on ownership and directorship is derived from the PNGi database, or in some instances from external investigative reports. Once this data was collected, the Malaysian link between individuals with involvement in FCA license holders is established either through the existence of business or personal addresses of these individuals located in Malaysia, or other documents identifying the citizenship of these individuals as Malaysian. This data is further derived from the PNGi database where available, and external information from investigative reports, company registration documents, shareholder reports, news articles and other sources. Other individuals are classified as either ‘Likely non- Malaysians’ or ‘Potentially Malaysian or linked to Malaysia’. The former is classified according to the presence of names which do not conventionally indicate the presence of Malay, Chinese, Indian or Orang Asal (Indigenous) ancestry, or are not commonly used names in Malaysia but are in Papua New Guinea, i.e Robiemon, Yalu and others. The latter is classified where there are no documents proving the link between the individual with Malaysia, but such individuals share surnames with other individuals verified as Malaysian. Any individuals not falling into the above three categories are classified as ‘Unknown’. The clustering of surnames was conducted based on the romanization of surnames as per PNGi-published documentation listed in Appendix 3 where it is assumed that traditional Chinese naming conventions, where the surname is first, has been uniformly rearranged to the last name in line with European ‘first name-last name’ conventions adopted by the PNG authorities. In cases where the surname does not appear last, links to family surnames are verified through secondary sources. The results of this review are presented in a table establishing these connections at the license holder level. Further, an analysis is included presenting a list of Malaysians involved in FCAs and their connections with FCA- license holding companies. Additionally, a map identifying a conservative estimate of the Malaysian forest ‘footprint’ is provided, where geospatial data of FCAs could be obtained via desktop research, as described in Finding #1.
11 Finding #1 FCA Licenses Threaten Nearly Two Million Hectares of Rainforest
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 12 FCA Licenses Threaten Nearly Two Million Hectares of Rainforest The PNGFA does not publish maps of FCA licenses. From the 67 known FCA licenses, there are 54 individual FCA concessions after overlaps are removed. Spatial data for 37 of these concessions could be identified, through a range of sources noted in Appendix 2, accounting for 68% of FCA licenses. The following findings must be interpreted accordingly. These 37 FCAs have a total area of 1,898,940 hectares. It must be noted that this is higher than the total licensed area as documented in the PNGi FCA database, which is 1,544,042ha. Within these 37 boundaries, between 2020 and 2022, 21,506ha of tree cover loss within natural forest cover occurred, illustrating that FCAs are a significant driver of deforestation in the country. Within the 1.89 million hectares of FCAs documented, 175,173 hectares comprise non-forest cover as of 1st January 2024, which includes clear-cut areas, agricultural areas and natural non-forest areas such as savannas and grasslands. Therefore 9% of FCAs already consist of non-forest areas, representing an area more than twice the size of Singapore. The remaining 1,680,319 hectares of natural forest remain standing in FCA license areas. Therefore, 1.68 million hectares of forests in Papua New Guinea are under threat from deforestation from FCA licenses alone. This represents an area roughly equal to the size of Eswatini, and is larger than the size of East Timor. It is also equivalent to Sarawak’s existing oil palm landbank. Of these forests, 1.47 million hectares, or 88% of the total forest under threat, can be spatially classified as ‘undisturbed’ forests, indicating the strong ecological integrity of forests being targeted by FCA licensees. Further underlining this ecological integrity, the amount of greenhouse gases that is expected to be released from the conversion of this 1.68 million hectares of forest is 277.35 million tCO2e; this is more than 27 times Papua New Guinea’s annual emissions at current rates (EDGAR, 2025).
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 13 Further information on how these calculations were conducted, and the geospatial data file for these concessions, can be found in the appendix. There are significant gaps in information on what commodities are being proposed for planting in cleared FCA areas. Of the 67 FCA licenses, commodity data was unavailable for 49 licenses. For the 18 FCAs for which this data was available, six FCAs planned to grow a combination of cocoa and other commodities, including coffee, balsa and graze cattle. four FCAs planned to grow oil palm alone or a combination with other commodities such as rubber, rice and sago. two FCAs primary planned to graze cattle. two FCAs planned to grow rubber. one FCA planned only to grow cocoa. one FCA planned to grow rice and cocoa. one FCA planned to grow Kamarere, a fast-growing Eucalyptus species. one FCA planned to grow coconut, pepper and conduct open-cast gold mining operations.
14 Finding #2 97% of FCA Licenses Are Linked to Malaysia
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 15 97% of FCA Licenses Are Linked to Malaysia 55 entities, both at the contractor and parent company level, are associated with FCA licenses. Each of these 55 entities, covering each of the 67 FCA licenses, were reviewed based on the methodology above. Of these 55 entities, four do not appear to have any Malaysian influence whatsoever. These are TANGOY VIVAFOUNDER HOLDINGS LIMITED, which is a joint venture between a Papua New Guinean and mainland Chinese company, Panakol Limited, which appears to be locally owned and controlled, Pacific Green Forests and Jambo Trak, which appears to be linked to individuals from Papua New Guinea and Brunei. Noting that some FCAs have, at different points, had different contractors (for example, FCA10-09 has had 4 contractors listed on the PNGi database), this analysis finds that 65 FCA licenses are, or have been at some point in time, held by entities that can be verified as under Malaysian influence. These links are demonstrated by data indicating these entities are subsidiaries of Malaysian companies, or that individuals who are shareholders or directors are either Malaysian nationals or have addresses in Malaysia. Therefore, 65 out of 67 FCA licenses are under Malaysian influence, comprising 97% of all FCA licenses. The list of 67 licenses and the presence or absence of links to Malaysia are included in the table on the next page. Information on the contractor, exporter and parent company is from the PNGi FCA database, while information on the ownership and directorship is derived from company profiles from the PNGi website, or other secondary sources. For brevity, all these sources are listed in detail in Appendix 2.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 16
Table 1: Links Between FCAs and Malaysia
Licence Number Contractor/Exporter Parent Company Entity Analysed Ownership Directorship
01-02 ALLIED SUCCESS No parent ALLIED SUCCESS Of the four Of the four directors
INTERNATIONAL INTERNATIONAL shareholders of of Allied Success
(PNG) LIMITED (PNG) LIMITED Allied Success International, three
International, two have addresses in
have addresses in Malaysia.
Malaysia.
03-02 ALBRIGHT LIMITED WILLSMART ALBRIGHT LIMITED Albright Limited’s Of the six directors
INTERNATIONAL and WILLSMART parent company is of Albright Limited,
LIMITED INTERNATIONAL Willsmart two have addresses
LIMITED International Limited. in Malaysia, and
Willsmart another is listed as a
International was Malaysian national.
acquired by Samling
in 2012 (Samling,
2012).
04-01 KULAWOOD LIMITED ASET MERIAH PNG KULAWOOD LIMITED Sole shareholder of Out of the four
LIMITED and ASET MERIAH Kulawood is a directors, one is
PNG LIMITED Malaysian Malaysian. Out of
national.The sole three directors of
shareholder of ASET ASET MERIAH three
MERIAH is a are Malaysian
Malaysian national. nationals.
04-03 Millennium No parent Millennium No data The sole director is
Corporation Corporation Malaysian.
Loani FCA Millennium No parent Millennium No data The sole director is
Corporation Corporation Malaysian.
05-01 MATUFI (PNG) No parent MATUFI (PNG) Out of three Out of five directors,
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two three are Malaysian.
are Malaysian
nationals.
05-03 ORO WOOD No parent ORO WOOD Out of three Out of six directors,
INDUSTRY LIMITED INDUSTRY LIMITED shareholders, two one is a Malaysian
have addresses in national, and two
Malaysia, and have addresses in
another is a Malaysia.
Malaysian national.
05-04 NORTHERN FOREST No parent NORTHERN FOREST Out of two Out of five directors,
PRODUCTS LIMITED PRODUCTS LIMITED shareholders, one one has an address
has an address in in Malaysia.
Malaysia.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 17
05-05 MUSA CENTURY No parent MUSA CENTURY 50% of the company Out of the two
LIMITED LIMITED is owned by Deluxe directors, both are
Investments Limited, Malaysian nationals.
of which two of three
directors are
Malaysian nationals.
49% of the company
is owned by a
Malaysian national.
05-06 ORO WOOD No parent ORO WOOD Out of three Out of six directors,
INDUSTRY LIMITED INDUSTRY LIMITED shareholders, two one is a Malaysian
have addresses in national, and two
Malaysia, and have addresses in
another is a Malaysia.
Malaysian national.
05-06 NORTHERN FOREST No parent NORTHERN FOREST Out of two Out of five directors,
PRODUCTS LIMITED PRODUCTS LIMITED shareholders, one one has an address
has an address in in Malaysia.
Malaysia.
10-01 SAMAS LIMITED BRILLIANT INVESTMENT BRILLIANT For Brilliant For Brilliant
LIMITED INVESTMENT Investment, of two Investment, of five
LIMITED and SAMAS shareholders, one is directors, two are
LIMITED a Malaysian Malaysian nationals.
national.For SAMAS For SAMAS Limited,
Limited, one of two two of four directors
shareholders has an are Malaysians and
address in Malaysia. one has an address
in Malaysia.
10-01 MEKAR HARVEST BRILLIANT INVESTMENT BRILLIANT For Brilliant For Brilliant
(PNG) LIMITED LIMITED and MEKAR (PNG) INVESTMENT Investment, of two Investment, of five
LIMITED LIMITED and MEKAR shareholders, one is directors, two are
HARVEST (PNG) a Malaysian national. Malaysian nationals.
LIMITED For MEKAR For MEKAR
HARVEST, one of two HARVEST, three of
shareholders are four directors are
Malaysian.For Malaysian.For
MEKAR (PNG) MEKAR (PNG)
Limited, 6 of 8 Limited, 6 of 8
shareholders have shareholders have
addresses in addresses in
Malaysia and one is a Malaysia and one is a
Malaysian. Malaysian.
10-03 BEWANI FOREST TOP LEAP HOLDINGS BEWANI FOREST For BEWANI, of five For BEWANI, of six
PRODUCTS LTD LIMITED PRODUCTS LTD and shareholders, three directors, three are
TOP LEAP are Malaysian Malaysian nationals,
HOLDINGS nationals, and two and two have
have addresses in addresses in
Malaysia For TOP Malaysia.
LEAP, no documents
could be accessed.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 18
10-04 JAMBO TRAK PACIFIC GREEN FOREST PACIFIC GREEN For PACIFIC GREEN For PACIFIC GREEN
LIMITED LIMITED FOREST LIMITED FOREST LIMITED, all FOREST LIMITED, of
AND JAMBO TRAK three shareholders six directors, one is
LIMITED are from Brunei. Malaysian, the rest
are from Brunei and
Papua New Guinea.
10-05 PACIFIC GREEN No parent PACIFIC GREEN Links cannot be Links cannot be
FOREST LIMITED FOREST LIMITED ascertained ascertained
10-07 GLOBAL ELITE No parent GLOBAL ELITE The sole shareholder Out of two directors,
LIMITED LIMITED is a Malaysian one is a Malaysian
national. national.
10-09 PJ PLANTATIONS No parent PJ PLANTATIONS Out of four Out of three
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two directors, two have
have addresses in addresses in
Malaysia. Malaysia.
10-09 PINA KIPA RURAL PJ PLANTATIONS LIMITED PJ PLANTATIONS For PJ For PJ
FARMERS LIMITED LIMITED and PINA PLANTATIONS, of PLANTATIONS, out
KIPA RURAL four shareholders, of three directors,
FARMERS LIMITED two have addresses two have addresses
in Malaysia. PINA in Malaysia. PINA
KIPA RURAL KIPA RURAL
FARMERS LIMITED’S FARMERS LIMITED’S
sole shareholder is a sole director is a
PNG national PNG national
10-09 SUNLAND LIMITED No parent SUNLAND LIMITED Out of two Links cannot be
shareholders, one is ascertained.
Malaysian.
10-09 TANGOY No parent TANGOY This is a joint venture No data.
VIVAFOUNDER VIVAFOUNDER between a local and
HOLDINGS LIMITED HOLDINGS LIMITED Chinese company.
10-10 GLOBAL ELITE No parent GLOBAL ELITE The sole shareholder Out of two directors,
LIMITED LIMITED is a Malaysian one is a Malaysian
national. national.
10-10 SUMMIT No parent SUMMIT All three Out of three
AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE shareholders are directors, two are
LIMITED LIMITED Malaysian nationals. Malaysian nationals.
10-11 VANIMO JAYA No parent VANIMO JAYA The largest No data
LIMITED LIMITED shareholder is a
Malaysian
10-13 CONTINENTAL No parent CONTINENTAL Both shareholders Both directors are
ALLIANCE LIMITED ALLIANCE LIMITED are Malaysian. Malaysian.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 19
10-14 EMO HOLDINGS LTD No parent EMO HOLDINGS LTD The sole shareholder Out of three
has an address in directors, one has an
Malaysia address in Malaysia.
11-01 WEWAK GK AGRICULTURE SDN BHD GK AGRICULTURE GK Agriculture is a GK Agriculture is a
AGRICULTURE SDN BHD and Malaysian-registered Malaysian-registered
DEVELOPMENT LTD WEWAK business businessAll three
AGRICULTURE directors of WEWAK
DEVELOPMENT LT AGRICULTURE
DEVELOPMENT
LTare Malaysian.
11-01 SUMMIT No parent SUMMIT All three Out of three
AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE shareholders are directors, two are
LIMITED LIMITED Malaysian nationals. Malaysian nationals.
11-02 STAR AVENUE BRILLIANT INVESTMENT BRILLIANT For Brilliant For Brilliant
LIMITED LIMITED INVESTMENT Investment, of two Investment, of five
LIMITED and STAR shareholders, one is directors, two are
AVENUE LIMITED a Malaysian national. Malaysian nationals.
For Star Avenue
Limited, the
nationality of both
directors could not
be ascertained.
11-03 SUMMIT No parent SUMMIT All three Out of three
AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE shareholders are directors, two are
LIMITED LIMITED Malaysian nationals. Malaysian nationals.
11-04 SUMMIT No parent SUMMIT All three Out of three
AGRICULTURE AGRICULTURE shareholders are directors, two are
LIMITED LIMITED Malaysian nationals. Malaysian nationals.
11-05 CONTINENTAL No parent CONTINENTAL Links cannot be Links cannot be
ALLIANCE LIMITED ALLIANCE LIMITED ascertained ascertained
11-05 GLOBAL ELITE No parent GLOBAL ELITE The sole shareholder Out of two directors,
LIMITED LIMITED is a Malaysian one is a Malaysian
national. national.
11-07 MATRIX No parent MATRIX Out of two Out of two directors,
DEVELOPMENT DEVELOPMENT shareholders, one is one is a Malaysian
LIMITED LIMITED a Malaysian national. national.
13-02 LUCKY 99 (PNG) No parent LUCKY 99 (PNG) An Act Now report An Act Now report
LIMITED LIMITED lists LUCKY 99 lists LUCKY 99
Limited as Limited as
Malaysian-owned. Malaysian-owned.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 20
13-02 LUCKY LOGGING LUCKY 99 (PNG) LIMITED LUCKY 99 (PNG) An Act Now report An Act Now report
LIMITED LIMITED and LUCKY lists LUCKY 99 lists LUCKY 99
LOGGING LIMITED Limited as Limited as Malaysian-
Malaysian-owned.For owned.For Lucky
Lucky Logging Logging Limited, of
Limited, of two two directors, one is a
shareholders, one is Malaysian national.
a Malaysian national.
13-03 WASU RESOURCE LUCKY LOGGING LIMITED LUCKY LOGGING For Lucky Logging For Lucky Logging
LIMITED LIMITED and WASU Limited, of two Limited, of two
RESOURCE LIMITED shareholders, one is directors, one is a
a Malaysian Malaysian national.For
national.For Wasu Wasu Resource
Resource Limited, of Limited, two are
two shareholders, presumably PNG
one is presumably a nationals and the
PNG national, and nationality of the
the nationality of the other was not
other was not ascertained.
ascertained.
14-01 WESTENDERS KK CONNECTIONS LIMITED KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data. Of six
LIMITED LIMITED and shareholders, two directors of
WESTENDERS are Malaysian Westenders, two are
nationals.Of six Malaysians.
shareholders of
Westenders, two are
Malaysians.
14-02 MILTON LIMITED ASET MERIAH PNG LIMITED ASET MERIAH PNG The sole shareholder Out of three directors,
LIMITED and MILTON of ASET MERIAH is a three are Malaysian
LIMITED Malaysian nationals for ASET
national.For MILTON, MERIAHFor MILTON,
one of three one of six directors is
shareholders is Malaysian.
Malaysian.
14-03 MILTON LIMITED ASET MERIAH PNG LIMITED ASET MERIAH PNG The sole shareholder Out of three directors,
LIMITED and MILTON is a Malaysian three are Malaysian
LIMITED national for ASET nationals for ASET
MERIAH. MERIAH
14-04 NOBLE VANIMO JAYA LIMITED VANIMO JAYA The largest No dataThree of five
INVESTMENTS LIMITED and NOBLE shareholder of directors of NOBLE
LIMITED INVESTMENTS VANIMO JAYA is a INVESTMENTS are
MalaysianAll three Malaysian
shareholders of
NOBLE
INVESTMENTS are
Malaysian
15-01 TZEN NIUGINI CAKARA ALAM (PNG) LTD. CAKARA ALAM Cakara Alam is Both directors of
LIMITED (PNG) LTD. and TZEN owned by CA Cakara Alam are
NIUGINI Investments Limited, Malaysian.Of TZEN
registered in NIGUINI’s 11 directors,
Malaysia.TZEN one is Malaysian and 7
NIGUINI’s sole have addresses in
shareholder is Malaysia.
Malaysian.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 21
15-02 TZEN NIUGINI CAKARA ALAM (PNG) LTD. CAKARA ALAM Cakara Alam is Both directors of
LIMITED (PNG) LTD. and TZEN owned by CA Cakara Alam are
NIUGINI Investments Limited, Malaysian.Of TZEN
registered in NIGUINI’s 11
Malaysia.TZEN directors, one is
NIGUINI’s sole Malaysian and 7 have
shareholder is addresses in
Malaysian. Malaysia.
15-03 TZEN NIUGINI CAKARA ALAM (PNG) LTD. CAKARA ALAM Cakara Alam is Both directors of
LIMITED (PNG) LTD. and TZEN owned by CA Cakara Alam are
NIUGINI Investments Limited, Malaysian.Of TZEN
registered in NIGUINI’s 11
Malaysia.TZEN directors, one is
NIGUINI’s sole Malaysian and 7 have
shareholder is addresses in
Malaysian. Malaysia.
15-03 TZEN PLANTATION CAKARA ALAM (PNG) LTD. CAKARA ALAM Cakara Alam is Both directors of
LIMITED (PNG) LTD. and TZEN owned by CA Cakara Alam are
PLANTATION Investments Limited, Malaysian.Of six
LIMITED registered in directors, three are
Malaysia. Malaysian for TZEN
Plantation.
15-04 KK CONNECTIONS KERAWARA LIMITED KK CONNECTIONS For KK Connections, No data. For
LIMITED LIMITED and of three KERAWARA, of 15
KERAWARA shareholders, two directors, 4 have
are Malaysian addresses in
nationals. Malaysia
15-05 TIAN SUYN LIMITED No parent TIAN SUYN LIMITED Both shareholders No data
are Malaysian.
15-07 GILFORD LIMITED RIMBUNAN HIJAU (PNG) RIMBUNAN HIJAU Rimbunan Hijau is a Rimbunan Hijau is a
LIMITED (PNG) LIMITED Malaysian company. Malaysian company.
15-09 KK CONNECTIONS KERAWARA LIMITED KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data.
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two
are Malaysian
nationals.
15-09 K L CONNECTIONS KK CONNECTIONS LIMITED KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data.
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two
are Malaysian
nationals.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 22
15-10 LALOANI NO. 8 KK CONNECTIONS LIMITED KK CONNECTIONS For KK Connections No data for KK
LIMITED LIMITED and of three ConnectionsFor
LALOANI NO. 8 shareholders, two LALOANI NO.8, 2 of 7
LIMITED are Malaysian directors are
nationals. For Malaysian.
LALOANI NO.8, one
of five shareholders
are Malaysian.
15-11 KK CONNECTIONS No parent KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data.
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two
are Malaysian
nationals.
15-13 WESTENDERS KK CONNECTIONS LIMITED KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data.
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two
are Malaysian
nationals.
15-13 PL CONNECTION No parent PL CONNECTION Out of three Of its six directors,
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two four share the same
have addresses in address in Malaysia,
Malaysia and one is a and one is Malaysian.
Malaysian national.
15-14 PANAKOL LIMITED No parent PANAKOL LIMITED Links cannot be Links cannot be
ascertained. ascertained.
15-14 KK CONNECTIONS No parent KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data.
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two
are Malaysian
nationals.
15-16 K L CONNECTIONS KK CONNECTIONS LIMITED KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data.
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two
are Malaysian
nationals.
15-17 GREENPOINT No parent GREENPOINT Out of two Out of two directors,
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, both both are Malaysian
are Malaysian nationals.
nationals.
15-18 MEKAR (PNG) VANIMO JAYA LIMITED VANIMO JAYA The largest No data
LIMITED LIMITED shareholder is a
Malaysian
15-21 KK CONNECTIONS No parent KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data.
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two
are Malaysian
nationals.
15-22 KK CONNECTIONS No parent KK CONNECTIONS Out of three No data.
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, two
are Malaysian
nationals.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 23
16-02 TUTUMAN MANTORRAS PNG LIMITED TUTUMAN According to Global No data.
DEVELOPMENT LTD DEVELOPMENT LTD Witness (2017: 32),
Tutuman
Development is
Malaysian owned.
Mantorras’s
shareholders are
Malaysian.
16-02 JOINLAND PNG No parent JOINLAND PNG According to Global No data
LIMITED LIMITED Witness, Joinland
PNG Limited is
Malaysian owned.
16-03 MILLIONPLUS TUTUMAN DEVELOPMENT TUTUMAN According to Global No data.
CORPORATION LTD DEVELOPMENT LTD Witness, Tutuman
LIMITED Development is
Malaysian owned.
Millionplus’s
shareholders are
Malaysian.
16-04 ISLANDS FOREST No parent ISLANDS FOREST Out of five Out of five directors,
LIMITED LIMITED shareholders, one three have
has an address in addresses in
Malaysia, and Malaysia.
another is Malaysian.
18-01 MAXLAND (PNG) JOINLAND PNG LIMITED JOINLAND PNG According to Global No data
LIMITED LIMITED Witness, Joinland
PNG Limited is
Malaysian owned.
18-01 MAXLAND (PNG) TUTUMAN DEVELOPMENT TUTUMAN According to Global No data.Of Maxland’s
LIMITED LTD DEVELOPMENT LTD Witness, Tutuman 7 directors, 4 are
and MAXLAND Development is Malaysian and 1 has
Malaysian owned. Of an address in
Maxland’s three Malaysia.
shareholders, all are
Malaysian
N/A (Loani- Millennium N/A Millenium No data The sole director is
Bwanabwana Corporation Corporation Malaysian.
)
24 Finding #3 79 Malaysians, Some Controversial, Involved in FCA Licenses
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 25
79 Malaysians, Many Controversial, Involved in FCA
Licenses
This analysis analysed the details of 190 individuals involved in the 55 reviewed entities. Of these 190 individuals,
79 individuals can be demonstrably linked to Malaysia, with these links identified through investment records,
registration records, news articles or any other source listed in Appendix 2. Meanwhile, an additional 49 are
classified as likely not Malaysian, 52 individuals are categorised as likely to be Malaysian or linked to Malaysia due
to surnames similar to other individuals identified as Malaysian, and 11 are classified as nationality unknown, as
explained in the Methodology section above. The list of individuals associated with the 55 entities is displayed
below. This list is derived from company profiles on the PNGi website, and for brevity all sources are detailed in
Appendix 2.
Table 2: Individuals Associated with FCA Licensees
(‘Malaysians’ in Green, ‘Potentially Malaysian or Linked to Malaysia’ in Black, ‘Likely Non-Malaysians’ in
Red, ‘Unknown’ in Blue)
Entity Shareholders Directors
ALLIED SUCCESS INTERNATIONAL (PNG) Tuong Hui Wong Sing Nang Wong
LIMITED Yik Long Wong Piew Seng Ngu
Wou Wei PAO Wou Wei PAO
Junxiong Li
ALBRIGHT LIMITED N/A Theam Hock Chew
Kian Liam Wong
Ait Lim Wong
Lee Ung WONG
Sie Kion LAU
Yick Kwang LEE
STAR AVENUE LIMITED N/A Ming Yong YU
Chung Chung Ting
PINA KIPA RURAL FARMERS LIMITED Bernard Hiawani Bernard Hiawani
JAMBO TRAK LIMITED Kong Ping Lim Kong Ping Lim
Kwang Ing Lim Kwang Ing Lim
Pow Lim Jack Goh
Nassain Nakakus
Pow Lim
William Garey
MEKAR HARVEST PNG LIMITED Ing Kee Wong Ing Kee Wong
King Shou Yein King Shou Yein
Tiong Kheng Hii
Tiong Kuoh Hii
SAMAS LIMITED Ing Kee Wong Hin Siong Yong
Ing Chang Ngui Tu Sang Yong
Ing Kee Wong
Ing Chang Ngui
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 26
WASU RESOURCE LIMITED Edna Yalu Dorothy Hans
Jonathan Hul Hung Lau Edna Yalu
Jonathan Hul Hung Lau
WEWAK AGRICULTURE DEVELOPMENT LTD Lau Hui Teck N/A
Nyi Then
Chiong Ming Ting
WILLSMART INTERNATIONAL LIMITED N/A, owned by Samling (Samling, 2012) N/A
GILFORD LTD Daniel Teck Hsin LING Su Chiu LU
Tzong bin Hii James SZE YUAN LAU
Ching Hieng HO
Faye DIATAU
Grace Rose SOLIEN
KULAWOOD LIMITED Leonard Ng Chow Leung Leonard Ng Chow Leung
Joseph Ken James Yandu WANJIK
Joseph Scott KEN
Simon Peter TOMIYAVAU
MATUFI (PNG) LIMITED Leonard Ng Chow Leung Leonard Ng Chow Leung
Huong Mieng Ding Huong Mieng Ding
Jelawai Anak Dingon Jelawai Anak Dingon
Sing Yung CHIENG Sing Yung CHIENG
Tiew Wei TING
ORO WOOD INDUSTRY LIMITED Yih Wei Hwong Yih Wei Hwong
You Soon Hwong You Soon Hwong
Yih Siang Hwong Yih Siang Hwong
Jacob Kairi
Swee Hock Lim
NORTHERN FOREST PRODUCTS LIMITED Eii Sing Hii Eii Sing Hii
Daniel Shing Hii Daniel Shing Hii
Guy Robiemon
Chiong Hieng Tiew
MUSA CENTURY LIMITED Vui Can Lim Ait Lim Wong
Vui Seng Lim Vui Can Lim
Kem San Go Vui Seng Lim
Kem San Go
BRILLIANT INVESTMENT LIMITED Chung Ching Ting Chung Ching Ting
Ming Yong Yu Lucas Sii Ming Ling
Ming Yong Yu
Neng Lee Ling
Toripe Koava
BEWANI FOREST PRODUCTS Eng Seong Goh Eng Seong Goh
Kong Fatt Yap Kong Fatt Yap
Mat Zin Bin Mat Akir Mat Zin Bin Mat Akir
Kim Tee Tee Kim Tee Tee
Lip Hian Tee Lip Hian Tee
PACIFIC GREEN FOREST LIMITED Kong Ping Lim Kong Ping Lim
Lee Man Yung Lee Man Yung
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 27
GLOBAL ELITE LIMITED Chiong Ming Ting N/A
PJ PLANTATIONS LIMITED Joni DJOHARSJAH Joni DJOHARSJAH
Kai Tong Kong Kai Tong Kong
Chee Choon Wong Chee Choon Wong
Shi Qing Yang
SUNLAND LIMITED Daniel Teck Hsin Ling N/A
TANGOY VIVAFOUNDER HOLDINGS LIMITED Albert MUTUMAP Albert MUTUMAP
Baomin LU Baomin LU
Jeffrey NOMBEN Jeffrey NOMBEN
Jerry KEMOT Jerry KEMOT
Mu LI Wenling Mu LI Wenling
LI Yipeng LI Yipeng
HUANG Zhiwen CHEN HUANG Zhiwen CHEN
SUMMIT AGRICULTURE LIMITED Lau Hui Teck Lau Hui Teck
Chiong Ming Ting Chiong Ming Ting
Nyi Then Nyi Then
VANIMO JAYA LIMITED Ngie Yung Lau N/A
CONTINENTAL ALLIANCE LIMITED Dasmand Wei Ming WONG Dasmand Wei Ming WONG
Hieng Ming Wong Hieng Ming Wong
EMO HOLDINGS LTD Chai Hai Lee Chai Hai Lee
Elizah Koju
Hock Lye Khoo
GK AGRICULTURE SDN BHD N/A, Malaysian-owned N/A
MATRIX DEVELOPMENT LIMITED Lau Hui Teck Lau Hui Teck
Dasmand Wei Ming WONG Dasmand Wei Ming WONG
LUCKY 99 (PNG) LIMITED Absalom Haiyo Absalom Haiyo
Brendah Haiyo Brendah Haiyo
Edna Yalu Edna Yalu
Seng Lau Seng Lau
LUCKY LOGGING LIMITED Lau Woo Lau Woo
Edna Yalu Edna Yalu
KK CONNECTIONS LIMITED Han Hook See N/A
Kuok Tiang Ling
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 28
ASET MERIAH PNG LIMITED Huong Mieng Ding Huong Mieng Ding
Jelawai Anak Dingon Jelawai Anak Dingon
Koh Woo Ling
CAKARA ALAM (PNG) LTD. N/A Chan Char Lee
Ee Fei Lee
TIAN SUYN LIMITED Han Hook See N/A
Kuok Tiang Ling
LALOANI NO. 8 LIMITED Han Hook SEE Han Hook SEE
Jiangfeng ZHANG Jiangfeng ZHANG
Kuok Tiang LING Kuok Tiang LING
Mary AISA Mary AISA
Ray Chee Keong CHEONG Naomi PHILIP
Ray Chee Keong CHEONG
Sylvia Jane TSIKULA
Mekar PNG Limited Sing Yung CHIENG’s Ngie Sing Yung CHIENG’s Ngie
Yung LAU Yung LAU
Ngie Hung LAU Ngie Hung LAU
Nai Yiing Ling Nai Yiing Ling
Mee Kiong TIONG Mee Kiong TIONG
Hoe Yieng Tiong Hoe Yieng Tiong
Hieng Huong HII Hieng Huong HII
Ambrose Tiong Hong LAU Ambrose Tiong Hong LAU
Noble Investments Limited Ding Kuong Tiong Toripe KOAVA
Wang Ping KO Wang Ping KO
Ngie Yung LAU Lung Chuang TANG
Ngie Yung LAU
Tiw Tuh KUO
WESTENDERS LTD Chung Kui Law Chung Kui Law
Han Hook See Han Hook See
Jiangfeng Zhang Jiangfeng Zhang
Ka Tai Lee Ka Tai Lee
Kuok Tiang Ling Kuok Tiang Ling
Nassain Kurai Nakikus Nassain Kurai Nakikus
Milton Limited James Yandu Wanjik Joseph Ken
Joseph Ken Moses Ngui
Leonard Chow Leung Ng Leonard Chow Leung Ng
Moses Ngui
Siew Ling Wong
Simon Peter Tomiyavau
RIMBUNAN HIJAU (PNG) LIMITED Hiew King TIONG Hugh CHALMERS
Ik King TIONG Jeffrey Robert DICKENS
Thai King TIONG Stephen Peter David LEWIN
Thomas Bruce GALL Timothy John GLENN
Matthew MAY
Yung King TIONG
James LAU SZE YUAN
Thomas Bruce GALL
William Dare ROCHAIX
Kiew Chiong TIONG
Thai King TIONG
Ivan Su Chiu Lu
Chiong Ong TIONG
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 29
PL CONNECTION LIMITED Ling Pau Pau Ling Pau Pau
Ling Lee Lee Ling Lee Lee
Dana Ling Foong Dana Ling Foong
Dennis Lu Jing LING
Lu Siong Ling
PANAKOL LIMITED Julius SAKAIN Julius SAKAIN
Leo ARAPKI Leo ARAPKI
Alfred TOKADIK Alfred TOKADIK
Anton PRUGI Anton PRUGI
Blasius TOPOR Blasius TOPOR
Felix TAKUN Felix TAKUN
George ARIQINI George ARIQINI
James KAREKSES James KAREKSES
John MAIAP John MAIAP
Kevin WOREBAI Kevin WOREBAI
Patrick TAVANGA Patrick TAVANGA
GREENPOINT LIMITED Francis Chu Kuang CHENG Francis Chu Kuang CHENG
Huong Jiaw CHENG Huong Jiaw CHENG
TUTUMAN DEVELOPMENT LTD N/A, Malaysian-owned N/A
MAXLAND PNG LIMITED Kie Yee Ling Kie Yee Ling
Kuok Poh Ling Tiing Siu Hah
Nyuk Foh Lim Yew Mee Hii
San U Lee
Syn Vun Chok
Ting Ping Lau
Yew Mee Hii
JOINLAND PNG LIMITED Kie Yee Ling Kie Yee Ling
Tiing Siu Hah Tiing Siu Hah
Ting Ping Lau
Wee Tak Ling
KERAWARA LIMITED Beryl Howard Lim Kok Thieng
Henry Ephraim
Cristopher John Coady
Peter Koh Woo LING
James Hwong You CHUAANG
Yiu Wei HWONG
You Hu HWONG
You Soon HWONG
Bin Lopidi GENOL
Boon Shin KOK
Kee Hui LIM
Tung Leh LING
Kong Fah CHONG
Ray CHEONG
William GAREY
Lim Kok TIANG
ISLANDS FOREST LIMITED Kie Yee Ling Kie Yee Ling
Tiing Siu Hah Ting Ping Lau
Wei Chong Ong Wee Tak Ling
Hii Yew Mee
Grace Ong
MILLENIUM CORPORATION N/A Pak Cheng Wong
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 30
TZEN NIUGINI LIMITED Eng Kwee Tan Eng Kwee Tan
Ann Lie LIM Chai Beng LIM
Chan Char LEE
Doreen KOVE
Ee Fei LEE
Kim Yih CHIA
Koh Woo LING
Pik Ying SIA
Ronnie Hai Liang LIM
Soon Foo LIM
TZEN PLANTATION LIMITED N/A Ee Fei LEE
Kiat Keong LEW
Koh Woo LING
Lea Ping ONG
Ronnie Hai Liang LIM
Soon Foo LIM
TOP LEAP HOLDINGS N/A N/A
MILLIONPLUS CORPORATION LIMITED Kie Yii LING Kie Yii LING
Tiing Siu HAH Tiing Siu HAH
Ting Ping Lau
Wee Tak LING
MANTORRAS PNG LIMITED Kie Yii LING Kie Yii LING
Tiing Siu HAH Tiing Siu HAH
Ting Ping Lau
Wee Tak LING
It is understood that some of these 79 identified Malaysians have courted controversy in the past:
At least five individuals have experienced trouble with the Papua New Guinea Government Authorities, such as
Eii Sing Hii and Lau Woo, who have been accused of illegal logging, Kem Sang Go who faced fraud charges,
Leonard Ng Chow Leung who had a work permit cancelled in 2018 and Koh Loo Wing who was deported from
the country (Jawanews, 2003; EIA, 2005; The National, 2018; PNG Bulletin, 2021; Ian Molly KMC, n.d)
Four of these Malaysians were mentioned in the Panama Papers: Chung Ching Ting, Ting Chiong Ming, Lau Hui
Teck and Nyi Then (ICIJ n.d, a-d). Additionally, companies associated with Ting Chiong Ming have been linked
to land grabs and human rights abuses, as is described in Findings #4 and #5 (Act Now, 2023c).
At least three individuals are, or were once, active in Sarawak’s political scene: Ting Ping Lau, a councilor at
the Padawan Municipal Council, Piew Seng Ngu, a Dato’ Sri who was once President of the Sarawak Chinese
Federation and Tiong Kuoh HII, a former senator (SUPP news, 2016; NST, 2017; SR, 2019)
Three individuals are prominent Sarawakian business people, such as Dennis Lu Jing Ling, who is also a
director at Shin Yang, Ling Pau Pau, a non-executive director at Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad and Tiing Siu Hah.
Tiing Siu Hah is another Dato’ Sri who was the founder of Joinland, was linked to a land corruption scandal in
Sabah, and at time of publication is under investigation from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission
(MACC) for money laundering allegations (Shin Yang, 2024; SOP, n.d.; MACC 2025).
31 Finding #4 Association with Sarawakian Timber Dynasties
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 32
Association with Sarawakian Timber Dynasties
Within this list of individuals, the presence of surnames which could be associated1 with prominent Sarawakian
timber dynasties, including at least four timber tycoons of Sarawak’s “big six” (Rimbunan Hijau, WTK, Samling,
KTS, Shin Yang and Ta Ann) (WWF, 2014), are significant:
Five individuals have the Hii surname, associated with the Asia Plywood group (BMF, 2011; SR 2012).
Eight individuals have the Lau surname, associated with the KTS group (one of the “big 6”) (The Edge, 2017).
12 individuals have the Ling surname, associated with the Shin Yang group (one of the “big 6”)(Shin Yang, n.d).
Nine individuals have the Tiong surname, associated with Rimbunan Hijau (one of the “big 6”)(BMF, 2011; The
Edge, 2017; SR2020).
Ten individuals have the Wong surname, associated with the WTK group (one of the “big 6”) (BMF, 2011; Act
Now 2023; SR 2020).
In all, according to this analysis, 44 individuals could be associated with Sarawakian timber dynasties that have
extensive logging activities across the world, comprising 31% of verified and potential Malaysians involved with
FCA licenses. However, this 31% control 40 FCAs, accounting for 60% of the total number of FCAs, and, these 40
FCAs cover a combined area of 1.2 million hectares, comprising 79% of the total FCA size by area according to
PNGi figures.
Additionally, beyond the ‘big six’, these individuals are also linked to Papua New Guinea-specific timber dynasties.
Ting Chiong Ming, who has a registered address in Sarawak (ICIJ, n.d(b)), is the direct, or indirect, principal
shareholder in over 40 separate legal entities under the ‘Giant Kingdom’ group (Act Now, 2023c: 6). This includes
companies named in this report for involvement in FCAs, including Summit Agriculture (FCA10-10, 11-01, 11-03 and
11-04), Wewak Agriculture (FCA11-01) and Global Elite (FCA10-07, FCA10-10, FCA11-05), covering an area of at
least 494,080 hectares; larger than the entire district of Miri, Sarawak. The Giant Kingdom group is involved in
FCAs such as the Wammy FCA, which, as described in Finding #5, is associated with violence and physical harm
against local communities, gun violence, and other forms of police intimidation paid for by Global Elite (Act Now,
2023c: 26).
______________________
1Refer to methodology section for further information. Information presented in this section is indicative and should be used with caution.
33 Finding #5 Significant Human Rights Abuses Have Arisen In These FCAs
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 34 Significant Human Rights Abuses Have Arisen In These FCAs FCA licenses are widely associated with human rights abuses, including non-recognition of customary land rights, police intimidation and violence, along with environmental damage. Some of these have been documented in a four-part series investigating FCAs by Act Now, focusing on five projects. The Wasu Cattle Farm Project The FCA for the Wasu Cattle Farm project in Morobe was awarded in 2019, and the parent company of the contractor is the Malaysian-owned Lucky Logging Limited. According to the Act Now report (2024b), landowner representatives interviewed had reported no visible signs of agricultural or cattle activities in the Wasu FCA project area (Act Now 2024b: 12-14). Satellite images indicate that the logging pattern aligns more with selective commercial logging, characteristic of a Forest Management Authority (FMA)-authorized project, rather than the extensive land clearing typical of agricultural development, calling the legality of the FCA into question (Act Now 2024b: 15). Furthermore, Act Now recorded substantial evidence that not all landowners have given their consent to the project. Their on-ground investigation found that two landowning clans in the area have raised objections, stating they were not adequately consulted before the FCA was issued. One of these groups, the Nzera clan, is currently engaged in a formal land mediation process and has expressed significant concerns over a logging license being granted on their land before ownership was fully established (Act Now 2024b: 11-14). The Mengen Integrated Agricultural Project The FCA for the Mengen Integrated Agricultural Project was awarded to a subsidiary of KK Connections, a Malaysian-owned company. Act Now found that forestry activities within the FCA seem to be primarily focused on extracting high-value timber, rather than conversion for proposed agricultural development, which is not allowed under the FCA license. The report (Act Now, 2024c) further finds that, while some customary landowners signed consent agreements, opposition from multiple landowner groups has been well-documented, through letters of objection that had been sent to authorities. The project also impacts areas of international environmental importance, including the Nakanai Karst, which is on the Tentative World Heritage List (Act Now, 2024c: 17). Additionally, Act Now found evidence suggesting that police have been involved in intimidation through suppression of dissent and pressuring of landowners on behalf of logging companies, raising further concerns (Act Now, 2024c: 17). The Wammy Rural Development Project The FCA for the Wammy Rural Development Project was issued to Global Elite Limited, a Malaysian-owned company. Similar to the other FCAs, only selective logging had been observed in this FCA. The Act Now and Jubilee Australia report (2023) finds evidence that, potentially, the majority of customary landowners did not consent to the project, with issues arising such as inadequate consultation and reports that individuals had signed consent forms on behalf of community members (Act Now and Jubilee Australia, 2023: 8-9). Further, the report documents violence against local communities, including that landowners opposing logging companies were threatened with guns and locked in a shipping container for up to one week. The report cites an ABC News investigation which found that Global Elite had brought police officers to the site and paid for their food and accommodation. One landowner interviewed for the investigation stated that police had broken his jaw, teeth and mouth (Act Now and Jubilee Australia, 2023: 14-15).
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 35 The Loani Bwanabwana FCA The Loani Bwanabwana FCA was awarded in 2024 to Millennium Corporation, a company with a Malaysian director. Act Now (2024) reported strong indications that the FCA did not receive free prior informed consent from customary landowners, with the verification forms submitted as part of the FCA application indicating that one out of seven clans on Sideia Island gave their approval, and on Basilaki Island only three out of 12 clans (ActNow 2024: 3-4). Further, the report finds that the wrong paperwork was used to verify consent, that signatures were not witnessed by the correct official, and the public hearing was conducted at the Provincial capital and not within local communities. Wanigela Tree Plantation FCA The Wanigela Tree Plantation FCA was first granted in 2017. Since then, communities have maintained that they were never properly consulted, their land rights never verified, and no informed agreement was reached. When landowners, supported by the provincial governor, challenged the 2017 FCA in court, the permit was cancelled in 2018. Yet, only five months later, in July 2019, the PNG Forest Authority reissued a new FCA for the same area to the same company, Northern Forest Products Limited, without addressing these consent issues (Act Now and Jubilee Australia, 2025: 5-6). The project’s operations have also failed to comply with the legal framework intended to safeguard both communities and the environment. Rather than carrying out block-by-block land clearing followed by agricultural development, as FCA rules require, the company engaged in extensive selective logging over a wide area, including outside the designated boundaries. This pattern, combined with repeated breaches of export permits has reinforced the perception that the “tree plantation” is simply a cover for industrial-scale logging. Compounding the harm is the lack of any tangible agricultural or plantation development. Years after logging began, there is no evidence of seedling nurseries, tree planting, or other promised agricultural activity (Act Now and Jubilee Australia, 2025: 11). Environmental consequences have been severe for local communities, with local elders reporting that logging has polluted coastal waters where people bathe, and has eroded cultural and spiritual connections to the land, diminishing the inheritance they can pass to future generations. Despite these impacts, there has been little to no effective monitoring by government agencies (Act Now and Jubilee Australia, 2025: 12). The company’s apparent lack of secure land tenure further undermines legal rights, casting doubt on the legitimacy of its operations. Although the project’s environmental permit was suspended in 2021 over concerns about illegal logging and environmental damage, it was reinstated in 2022 without clear explanation. Landowners’ legal efforts to challenge the decision have continued to be delayed by procedural obstacles (Act Now and Jubilee Australia, 2025: 12).
36 Conclusions and recommendations
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 37
This review examined the involvement of Malaysian companies and individuals in Forest Clearance Authorities
(FCAs) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). FCAs are permits issued under PNG’s Forestry Act to facilitate large-scale
forest conversion for agricultural or infrastructure projects. However, they have been widely criticized for
facilitating illegal logging and human rights abuses, which continue despite a 2023 moratorium on new FCA
licenses.
This review found that at least 1.68 million hectares of rainforest are under threat from FCA licenses, an area
equal to the size of Eswatini and larger than East Timor. Of these forests, 88% are classified as ‘undisturbed
forests’, and their conversion could release a combined 277.35 million tCO2e.
65 of 67 FCA licenses are controlled by Malaysian-linked companies, accounting for 97% of total FCA licenses, of
which many have faced legal issues, including allegations of illegal logging and fraud. Some are linked to politically
influential families and major logging companies in Sarawak, Malaysia and/or are involved in the Panama Papers
scandal.
Case studies of FCAs reveal a recurring pattern: projects receive FCA approval with promises of agriculture, but
primarily focus on timber extraction, often with little evidence of completed or viable farming activities. These
operations frequently occur on customary land without proper consent, undermining landowner rights and
community livelihoods. Further, spatial data on FCAs is difficult to access, and information on which commodities
are planned for FCA projects is unavailable, leading to transparency issues. However, for the FCAs for which this
data is available, there is no predominant commodity, and oil palm, rubber, cocoa, cattle and fast-growing timber
species were all present in plans.
Demands to the Government of Papua New Guinea:
The Government to suspend logging operations and log exports from all FCA areas until an independent,
transparent and public inquiry into the legality of the licences and on-site operations has been completed and
identified steps to rectify any abuses have been implemented.
The PNGFA to extend the moratorium on issuing new FCA licences until the above independent inquiry has
been conducted and any recommendations have been implemented.
The PNGFA to publish the findings of any already completed audits of FCA projects.
The PNGFA to publish detailed maps of all FCA concessions licensed since 2006 and copies of the FCA
permits and agriculture plans.
The PNG police fraud squad, UNODC and Interpol to identify any criminal laws that may have been broken in
the submission and approval of FCA applications and the removal of timber without the informed consent of
forest owners.
The Investment Promotion Authority to publicly disclose the beneficial ownership of all Malaysian and other
foreign owned companies operating in PNG.
The relevant agencies in PNG to immediately spearhead anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public
Participation) legislation to protect Indigenous defenders, NGOs and activists from corporate intimidation and
silencing.
PNG natural resource legislation must be amended to give paramount consideration to the protection and
recognition of the rights of customary landowners in any resource development in PNG.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 38
Demands to the Government of Malaysia
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to open an investigation into the conduct of Malaysian
companies in PNG, including:
Engaging the relevant PNG enforcement agencies to assist in an investigation, under the Mutual Assistance
in Criminal Matters Act 2002;
Assessing whether companies obtained concessions through illegal methods;
Assessing whether companies adhered to Malaysian law, including crimes committed abroad regarded as
serious offences under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful
Activities Act 2001, in their business activities;
Assessing whether any evasion of Malaysian tax and anti-money laundering regulations, including the Anti-
Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001, are occurring.
Publication of the outcome of the investigation.
The Legal Affairs Division (BHEUU) to prioritise the operationalisation of the National Action Plan on Business
and Human Rights (NAPBHR), including:
Accelerating the development of a Supply Chain Act, which would include provisions to compel Malaysian
companies to adhere to United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), FPIC
and associated Community Protocols in their overseas activities, as identified as a priority action in the
NAPBHR;
The establishment of a robust, independent human rights monitoring and complaint system is in place
which protects whistleblowers, including a Federal Ombudsman to handle complaints made against the
public service, and a Human Rights Tribunal to empower enforcement activity against other actors, such as
businesses;
Penalties for contravening such legislation, including fines tied to the nature of violation and revocation of
permits.
The Government of Malaysia needs to immediately spearhead anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public
Participation) legislation to protect Indigenous defenders, NGOs and activists from corporate intimidation and
silencing.
Financial regulators Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission to:
Establish a financing blacklist for companies involved in such violations of such BHEUU legislation as
proposed above.
Open an investigation into the potential complicity of financial institutions in breaches of anti-money
laundering and tax evasion regulations in relation to any financing or financial services support of
Malaysian companies operating in extractive industries in PNG.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 39
Demands to the Private Sector
Overseas timber buyers to ensure any unprocessed logs, sawn timber and timber products purchased from
PNG are independently verified as coming from a valid, legally approved and sustainably managed source.
All financial institutions, including commercial banks and development banks, that maintain a presence in
Papua New Guinea and Malaysia, to:
Identify and review financed entities operating in Papua New Guinea, ensuring that customers are fully
compliant with anti-money laundering and tax regulations, and entity-level No Deforestation, Peat or
Exploitation (NDPE) policies.
For future financing, institutions should place additional levels of due diligence to any Malaysian companies
operating in extractive industries in Papua New Guinea, ensure that all financing adheres to No
Deforestation, Peat or Exploitation (NDPE) principles, that the directors and shareholders of financed
companies are not involved in breaches of in breaches of anti-money laundering and tax regulations or any
other aspects of Malaysian or Papua New Guinean law, and that financed activities are aligned with the
Paris Agreement and international consensus such as from the International Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC).
Demands to International Aid Agencies
The diplomatic community and aid agencies to:
Support the PNG government to implement the above inquiry into all existing FCA licences and implement
the inquiry recommendations, and;
Assist the PNGFA to establish a public register of all timber harvesting operations as provided under
S.103A of the Forestry Act 1991.
40 Bibliography
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Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 42 International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), n.d (a). Offshore Leaks Database – TING CHUNG CHING. [online] Available at: https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/nodes/12171112 [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), n.d (b). Offshore Leaks Database – TING CHIONG MING. [online] Available at: https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/nodes/12160994 [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), n.d (c). Offshore Leaks Database – LAU HUI TECK. [online] Available at: https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/nodes/12188644 [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), n.d (d). Offshore Leaks Database – THEN NYI. [online] Available at: https://offshoreleaks.icij.org/nodes/12180582 [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), 2025. Biennial review and assessment of the world timber situation, 2023-2024. [online] Available at: https://www.itto.int/direct/topics/topics_pdf_download/topics_id=8460&no=1. [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), 2015. Biennial review and assessment of the world timber situation, 2013-2014. Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), 2019. Part 1: Forestry Sector Information. [pdf] Available at: https://www.jica.go.jp/Resource/png/english/activities/c8h0vm00008t2ycr-att/part_01.pdf [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025]. Jawanews, 2003. Malaysian tycoon arrested on illegal logging charges. [online] Available at: https://jawawa.id/newsitem/malaysian-tycoon-arrested-on-illegal-logging-charges-1447893297 [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), 2025. [online] Available at: https://www.sprm.gov.my/index.php? page_id=105&contentid=3676&language=en [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. Nelson, et al., 2017. Oil Palm Development and Large-Scale Land Acquisitions in Papua New Guinea. [online] ResearchGate. Available at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315516319_Oil_Palm_Development_and_Large- Scale_Land_Acquisitions_in_Papua_New_Guinea [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025]. New Straits Times, 2017. Will Sarawak CM appoint Chinese deputy? [online] Available at: https://www.nst.com.my/news/2017/02/211083/will-sarawak-cm-appoint-chinese-deputy [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA), n.d. Policy and Legislation. [online] Available at: https://www.pngfa.gov.pg/index.php/search/papua-new-guinea-forestry-laws/policy-and-legislation [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025]. Papua New Guinea Forest Authority (PNGFA), n.d (b). Forest Acquisition & Allocation Directorate. [online] Available at: https://pngfa.gov.pg/index.php/about-us/our-organizational-structure/forest-acquisition-allocations- directorate [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025]. PNGi Forests, 2024. Licence Type: Forest Clearing Authority (FCA). [online] Available at: https://pngiforests.org/licence-type/fca [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025]. PNGi Forests, 2025. Log Exports by License Type [online] Available at: https://pngiforests.org [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025].
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 43 Sarawak Oil Palms Berhad (SOP), n.d. Our Leaders. [online] Available at: https://sop.com.my/our-leaders/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. Sarawak Report, 2012. Hii Family Connections to Asia Plywood and Taib Family. [online] Available at: https://www.sarawakreport.org/2012/02/hii-family-connection-to-asia-plywood-and-taib-family/ [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025]. Sarawak Report, 2019. As federal resources minister signals oil palm halt Sarawak forestry keeps chopping native lands. [online] Available at: https://www.sarawakreport.org/2019/03/as-federal-resources-minister-signals-oil- palm-halt-sarawak-forestry-keeps-chopping-native-lands/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. Sarawak Report, 2020. Sarawak’s Logging Tycoons in Papua New Guinea. [online] Available at: https://sarawakreportdocs.s3.eu-west- 2.amazonaws.com/Sarawak's+Logging+Tycoons+In+Papua+New+Guinea+by+Sarawak+Report_FINAL(1).pdf [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025]. Shin Yang Group, n.d. Shin Yang's controlling Ling family injects East Malaysia car dealership business into group for RM144.5 mil. [online] Available at: https://www.shinyanggroup.com.my/news-articles/91-shin-yangs- controlling-ling-family-injects-east-malaysia-car-dealership-business-into-group-for-rm144-5-mil.html [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025]. Shin Yang Group, 2024. Proposed Diversification. [online] Available at: https://www.shinyanggroup.com.my/images/documents/newsroom/General_Announcement/SYGROUP%20- %20Proposed%20Diversification%20090824.pdf [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. Samling Global Limited, 2012. OVERSEAS REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT. [online] Available at: https://www1.hkexnews.hk/listedco/listconews/sehk/2012/0608/ltn20120608462.pdf. [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. SGS, 2024. Monthly Report for December 2023 to the Papua New Guinea Forestry Authority [online] Available at: https://pngforests.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/sgs_dec_2023.pdf. [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. SUPP News Portal, 2016. [online] Available at: https://www.suppnewsportal.com/main/?p=11831 [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. The Edge, 2017. Cover Story: Sarawak’s long-standing business rivalry. [online] Available at: https://theedgemalaysia.com/article/cover-story-sarawaks-long-standing-business-rivalry [Accessed 15 Apr. 2025]. The National, 2018. Court rejects application to review work permit. [online] Available at: https://www.thenational.com.pg/court-rejects-application-to-review-work-permit/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. The PNG Bulletin, 2021. Court: Malaysian deported illegally, Turi cleared. [online] Available at: https://thepngbulletin.com/news/court-malaysian-deported-illegally-turi-cleared/ [Accessed 3 Sep. 2025]. WWF Malaysia, 2014. Upholding integrity and legality in Sarawak's timber industry. [online] Available at: https://www.wwf.org.my/?18465/Upholding-integrity-and-legality-in-Sarawaks-timber-industry [Accessed 25 Apr. 2025].
44 Appendices
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 45
Appendix 1: Sources of Commodity Data
Note: Some data on commodities was derived from presentation slides from the 54th Annual Survey Congress, held between 12-14 September 2022, hosted
by the East New Britain Provincial Administration Division of Lands and Physical Planning, available at this link:
https://www.quickclose.com.au/ENB_Lands.pdf.
FCA Name Commodity FCA License Number Source of Commodity Data
Begere N/A ‘01-02 No
Abeda N/A ‘03-02 No
Woodlark Integrated Project Coconut, pepper, acacia, open- ‘04-01 https://pngicentral.org/reports/wo
cast gold mining odlark-island-logging-scam-part-
3-kulawood-limited/
Tufi Wanegela N/A ‘05-01 No
Ifane (Block 1 and 2) N/A ‘05-03 No
Wanigela and/or Wanigela Tree N/A ‘05-04 https://www.land-links.org/wp-
Plantation content/uploads/2022/09/SLOA-
Geospatial-Companion-PNG-
2022-9-6-508.pdf
Lower Musa Agro N/A ‘05-05 No
Ifane N/A ‘05-06 No
Semon Cattle Farm Cattle ‘13-02 No
Wasu Cattle Farm Cattle ‘13-03 No
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 46
Yuke N/A ‘11-07 No
Meander May Valley N/A ‘11-05 No
Angoram (Marienberg Hills) N/A ‘11-02 No
Wewak Turubu N/A ‘11-01 https://pngiforests.org/document/
wewak-turubu-fca-11-03-map
Angoram Integrated FCA N/A ‘11-04 No
Gweinif Wagasu N/A ‘10-10 No
Wagana Wagasu Large scale N/A ‘10-13 No
Aitape East N/A ‘10-01 https://www.land-links.org/wp-
content/uploads/2022/09/SLOA-
Geospatial-Companion-PNG-
2022-9-6-508.pdf
Wammy Oil palm and rubber ‘10-07 https://png-forests.s3-eu-west-
1.amazonaws.com/forests/d2a64c
47d88d251ad202bc3d3a2bb71129
15fee76d09d2cbf19a4db15335208
1/d2a64c47d88d251ad202bc3d3a
2bb7112915fee76d09d2cbf19a4db
153352081.pdf
Bewani Oil palm ‘10-03 https://pngforests.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/02/stained-
trade_global_witness_310717_lores
_pages.pdf
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 47
Schotchaio / Schotiacho N/A ‘10-04 No
Walsa N/A ‘10-05 No
Idam-Saiwi Inter Agri Proj Rice, oil palm, sago ‘10-09 No
Moile Integrated Agriculture N/A ‘10-14 No
Project
Pohowa Rubber ‘18-01 https://news.mongabay.com/2019/
12/deforestation-for-potential-
rubber-plantation-raises-
concerns-in-png/
East West Patpatar N/A ‘16-04 No
Central New Hanover Rubber, cocoa, coconut, and ‘16-02 https://pngforests.com/wp-
Calophyllum content/uploads/2014/02/stained-
trade_global_witness_310717_lores
_pages.pdf
Konoagil N/A ‘16-03 No
Toriu Headwaters Cocoa and Cattle ‘15-04 https://www.ecosoul.io/wp-
content/uploads/2021/09/NIHT-
VCS-Project-Description-v1.55.pdf
Makolkol N/A ‘15-09 No
Dengnenge 'A' Int. Agric Project Cocoa and Cattle ‘15-10 No
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 48
Dengnenge B Agro Forestry Cocoa ‘15-16 No
Lote Kamlang N/A ‘15-18 No
Utnari Land Agro-Forestry Cocoa, Balsa, Kamarere ‘15-21 No
Illi Wawas Roadline Oil palm ‘15-01 https://www.earthqualizer.org/new
s-and-publications/update-on-oil-
palm-expansion-in-papua-new-
guinea
Ili Wawas Masarau Oil palm ‘15-02 No
Ili Wawas Standalone Oil palm ‘15-03 No
Sigite-Mukus Oil palm ‘15-07 https://archive.org/details/Sigite-
mukusIntegratedRuralDevelopmen
tProjectEis2006/page/n49/mode/2
up
Suikol Cocoa and Coffee ‘15-13 https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pd
f/12150314_07.pdf
Taraiwara (Ext) Agro Reforestation N/A ‘15-14 No
Inland Lassul Baining N/A ‘15-11 https://www.land-links.org/wp-
content/uploads/2022/09/SLOA-
Geospatial-Companion-PNG-
2022-9-6-508.pdf
Mengen Integrated Kamarere ‘15-22 https://pngiforests.org/document/
a-new-forest-grab-the-mengen-
integrated-agriculture-project
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 49
Lolobao (Island) N/A ‘14-01 No
Pakalua Agri. Forestry N/A ‘14-02 No
Morevona-Agro Forestry N/A ‘14-03 No
Agulu Reserve N/A ‘14-04 No
Ania Integrated Agri Rice, Cocoa, Balsa, Kamarere ‘15-17 No
Suikol Makolkol Cocoa and Coffee ‘15-05 https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pd
f/12150314_07.pdf (Could not be
geolocated)
Loani Bwanabwana Integrated Cocoa, Balsa, Rice and others. N/A https://actnowpng.org/sites/defaul
Agro-Forestry Project t/files/publications/Loani%20FCA%
20Briefing%20Paper_0.pdf
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 50
Appendix 2: Sources of Spatial Data
FCA Name FCA License Number Source
Abeda ‘03-02 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Agulu Reserve ‘14-04 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Aitape East ‘10-01 https://www.land-links.org/wp-
content/uploads/2022/09/SLOA-Geospatial-
Companion-PNG-2022-9-6-508.pdf
Aitape West ‘10-11 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Angoram (Marienberg Hills) ‘11-02 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Angoram Intergrated FCA ‘11-04 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Ania Integrated Agri ‘15-17 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Begere ‘01-02 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Bewani ‘10-03 https://pngforests.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/02/stained-
trade_global_witness_310717_lores_pages.pdf
Central New Hanover ‘16-02 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Dengnenge 'A' Int. Agric Project ‘15-10 N/A
Dengnenge B Agro Forestry ‘15-16 N/A
East West Patpatar ‘16-04 N/A
Gweinif Wagasu ‘10-10 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Ifane (Block 1) ‘05-03 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Idam-Saiwi Inter Agri Proj ‘10-09 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Ifane (Block 2) ‘05-06 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Illi Standalone ‘15-03 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Illi Wawas (Masarau) ‘15-02 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 51
Illi Wawas Roadline ‘15-01 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Inland Lassul Baining ‘15-11 https://www.land-links.org/wp-
content/uploads/2022/09/SLOA-Geospatial-
Companion-PNG-2022-9-6-508.pdf
Konoagil ‘16-03 N/A
Loani Bwanabwana Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Lolobao (Island) ‘14-01 N/A
Lote Kamlang ‘15-18 N/A
Lower Musa Agro ‘05-05 N/A
Makolkol ‘15-09 N/A
Meander May Valley ‘11-05 N/A
Mengen Integrated ‘15-22 https://pngiforests.org/document/a-new-forest-
grab-the-mengen-integrated-agriculture-project
Moile Integrated Agriculture ‘10-14 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Morevona-Agro Forestry ‘14-03 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Pakalua Agri. Forestry ‘14-02 N/A
Pohowa ‘18-01 https://news.mongabay.com/2019/12/deforestati
on-for-potential-rubber-plantation-raises-
concerns-in-png/
Schotchaio / Schotiacho ‘10-04 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Semon (Cattle Farm) ‘13-02 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Sigite Mukus ‘15-07 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Suikol ‘15-13 https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/12150314_0
7.pdf
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 52
Suikol Makolkol ‘15-05 N/A
Taraiwara (Ext) Agro Reforestation ‘15-14 N/A
Toriu Headwaters ‘15-04 https://www.ecosoul.io/wp-
content/uploads/2021/09/NIHT-VCS-Project-
Description-v1.55.pdf
Tufi Wanigela ‘05-01 https://www.ecosoul.io/wp-
content/uploads/2021/09/NIHT-VCS-Project-
Description-v1.55.pdf
Utnari Land Agro-Forestry ‘15-21 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Wagana Wagasu Large scale ‘10-13 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Walsa ‘10-05 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Wammy ‘10-07 https://png-forests.s3-eu-west-
1.amazonaws.com/forests/d2a64c47d88d251ad
202bc3d3a2bb7112915fee76d09d2cbf19a4db15
3352081/d2a64c47d88d251ad202bc3d3a2bb71
12915fee76d09d2cbf19a4db153352081.pdf
Wanigela Tree Plantation ‘05-06 Act Now!
Wasu (Cattle Farm) ‘13-03 Timber Concession Map, PNGFA (2025)
Wewak Turubu Large Scale Integrated ‘11-03 https://pngiforests.org/document/wewak-
Agriculture Project turubu-fca-11-03-map
Woodlark Integrated Project ‘04-01 https://pngicentral.org/reports/woodlark-island-
logging-scam-part-3-kulawood-limited/
Yuke ‘11-07 N/A
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 53 Appendix 3: Raw Data: Shareholders, Directorship and Secretaries Available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1iVdOj9PAPzdtTq-D70SoOn1w_csOOKp0VqEltU0YFcs/edit? usp=sharing Appendix 4: Raw Data: Individuals Available at: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1a8uCghi2NBW9isksYCbVWCiYvBw_vuteUhZzWmBSFvA/edit? usp=sharing
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearing Authorities in Papua New Guinea 54
Appendix 5: Calculating FCA Extent, Forest Cover and Tree Cover Loss
This analysis is based on the following assumptions and definitions:
1. This analysis defines forests by adopting the FAO’s FRA 2025 ‘Naturally Regenerating Forest’ definition:
“Forest predominantly composed of trees established through natural regeneration”, including “i) forests for
which it is not possible to distinguish whether planted or naturally regenerated; ii) forests with a mix of
naturally regenerated tree species and planted/seeded trees, and where the naturally regenerated trees are
expected to constitute the major part of the growing stock at stand maturity; iii) Includes coppice from trees
originally established through natural regeneration and iv) Includes naturally regenerated trees of introduced
species.”
2. This analysis adopts the Vancutsem et al., 2024 forest cover dataset from the EU’s Tropical Moist Forest
(TMF) cover tool, developed to support the implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). Sub-
forest cover classifications, such as the extent of undisturbed, degraded and non-forest areas, are adopted
from this dataset. The dataset, which identifies and classifies tree cover outside of non-natural forest uses, is
adopted as it reflects ‘Naturally Regenerating Forest’ criteria (EU Science Hub, 2025).
3. This analysis adopts Hansen et al. Tree Cover Loss datasets and the Noone et al (2022) dataset on vulnerable
carbon to define expected GHG releases from conversion events.
4. All areas within concession boundaries which meet the Vancutsem et al., 2024 criteria for undisturbed and
degraded forest are assumed to be under threat from conversion, as data on areas set aside for conservation,
and other non-conversion uses are not known.
5. It must be noted that due to continued limitations in data availability, the findings of this report must be taken
as estimates produced within the confines of the methodology adopted.
Where possible, concession boundaries are imported directly from existing datasets. If unavailable, maps are
digitized to convert them from 2D images into shapefiles. To digitize maps of concessions, these are
georeferenced on Google Earth Pro while referencing forest reserve boundaries, geographical features (I.e rivers),
or other other features (i.e boundaries of monoculture plantations). Once digitized, concessions are then traced
following their outer boundary, as a .1 point line. It must be noted that the accuracy of concession boundaries are
dependent on the resolution of the image used, and the data presented here is an estimate only.
The calculations for this chapter were conducted on ArcGIS Pro 2.9, installed with a patch to fix existing bugs in
the software. This methodology may be applicable with other Geographic Information Systems (GIS) such as
QGIS, however the details below are based solely on calculations performed with ArcGIS Pro.
Upon downloading the relevant data, the "Extract by Mask" raster tool and "Mosaic to New Raster" tool were
applied to isolate and merge the data within Malaysia's administrative boundaries. This process generated a
comprehensive layer representing the state of forests within Malaysian territory, categorized as [Undisturbed,
Degraded, and Other] (Vancutsem et al., 2024). To integrate the concession boundaries data obtained from
RimbaWatch into the analysis, the Keyhole Markup Language (KML) format of the concession boundaries (see
Appendix II) was converted into a layer file using the tool available in ArcGIS Pro. Further, classification of the
polygons and lines in the concession dataset was conducted based on their respective attributes, such as timber
plantations, palm oil areas, and settlements, utilizing the reclassify tool. This step enabled the differentiation of
different types of concessions within the dataset. Subsequently, the forest classification layer was overlaid onto
the RimbaWatch dataset using the "Extract by Mask" tool. In this operation, the forest classification data served as
the input data, and the RimbaWatch dataset functioned as the boundary, yielding forest classification information
within the defined concession boundaries. The attribute tables from the new layers provide data for the number of
cells for each type of forest cover.
Report | Malaysian Involvement in Forest Clearance Authorities in Papua New Guinea 55 The layer properties of the raster data, available for each layer, provide the necessary information for this calculation. Specifically, the Raster Spatial Reference and Extent provided the necessary values for cell length (x) and cell width, which were instrumental in calculating the size of each cell. The cell length was squared to determine the cell size in square meters (m2), and this value was then converted to hectares (ha) by dividing it by 10,000. The formula for calculating the cell size (ha) is as follows: After obtaining the cell size, the attribute table of each layer was processed to extract pertinent information related to relevant values and the corresponding number of pixels for each row. The total area for each row in the attribute table was then determined by multiplying the number of cells by the previously calculated hectare value. Total area (ha) = Number of cells Cell size (ha) Finally, the total value in a given area is determined by multiplying the total area (ha) by the corresponding value specific to that region. The FCA licene boundaries are available for download at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14xIfqVxP23oZBpBShVMHKPKkfwz_HMWZ/view?usp=drive_link.
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