Rimbunan Hijau Group
THE Rimbunan Hijau Group counts as one of Asia’s highest producers of CO2. It has been so “successful” that it even has its own entry in Wikipedia!
The introduction goes like this: “Rimbunan Hijau is a Malaysian multinational logging company controlled by Malaysian billionaire Tiong Hiew King. The company has operations in many countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Vanuatu, New Zealand and Russia.
In Papua New Guinea Rimbunan Hijau is the single biggest logging operator controlling some 60 percent of the country’s forest industry, and it runs the country’s biggest sawmill. The company was established in 1976 and has an estimated annual turnover of more than US$1 billion.”
For 15 years local resource owners in Papua New Guinea have been asking the government to investigate documented breaches of forestry laws by Turama Forest Industries, believed to be a member of the Rimbunan Hijau Group. Nothing has been done.
According to Rimbunan Hijau Group Watch, the company is continuing to exert undue influence over politicians and procedures “to gain and maintain a near monopoly on Papua New Guinea’s forest resources and avoid adequate scrutiny and monitoring of its operations.”
They also claim on their website that Rimbunan Hijau uses the media to promote its operations to the PNG public.
Rimbunan Hijau owns The National newspaper. Threats against the only competitor, the Post Courier, have left it wary of criticising or even mentioning Rimbunan Hijau. These have been the only two print media outlets in Papua New Guinea since The Independent was closed down.
Despite criticism from environmental groups, the Rimbunan Hijau Group goes from strength to strength. In addition to logging, they are also making strides with another global-warming industry, oil-palm plantations.
And they have a hospitality division with a hotel in Malaysia where they also own a travel service, RH Tours & Travel.
In Hong Kong they have a travel company called Charming Holidays, which has carved a niche market in study tours. Charming Holidays has its very own travel portal but unfortunately it is for Chinese-speakers only.
In Papua New Guinea they own the RH Hypermarket and the Palace Restaurant.
Rimbunan Hijau’s own website is fun to visit. It runs to the sound of charming music. Try it! http://www.rhg.com.my/
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