Such a designation would mean closer scrutiny of timber and palm oil imported from the region (UCA News) – Environmental and rights groups urged the European Union on Sept. 24 to label Malaysia’s Sarawak region “high risk” under controversial new anti-deforestation rules to be implemented from the end of December.

Environmental and rights groups urged the European Union Tuesday to label Malaysia's Sarawak region "high risk" under controversial new anti-deforestation rules to be implemented from the end of December.

The European Union is being called upon by a coalition of environmental and human rights groups to classify Sarawak, Malaysia, as “high risk” under its new anti-deforestation law. Organizations like

In a joint statement today, the groups said millions of hectares of ancient rainforests in Sarawak are at risk of being razed for timber and oil palm plantations to cater for international markets.

A year-long investigation also found Indigenous rights violations in the Malaysian state. Malaysian and Indonesian officials recently blocked civil society representatives from participating in a

Environmental and rights groups urged the European Union Tuesday to label Malaysia’s Sarawak region “high risk” under controversial