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Malaysia is well-endowed with natural resources in areas such as
agriculture, forestry and minerals. In terms of agriculture, Malaysia is
one of the top exporters of natural rubber and palm oil, which together
with sawn logs and sawn timber, cocoa, pepper, pineapple and tobacco
dominate the growth of the sector. Palm oil is also a major generator of
foreign exchange.
Regarding forestry resources, it is noted that logging only began to make
a substantial contribution to the economy during the 19th century. Today,
an estimated 59% of Malaysia remains forested. The rapid expansion of the
timber industry, particularly after the 1960s, has brought about a serious
erosion problem in the country's forest resources. However, in line with
the Government's commitment to protect the environment and the ecological
system, forestry resources are being managed on a sustainable basis and
accordingly the rate of tree felling has been on the decline.
In addition, substantial areas are being silviculturally treated and
reforestation of degraded forest land is also being carried out. The
Malaysian government provide plans for the enrichment of some 312.30
square kilometers (120.5 sq mi) of land with rattan under natural forest
conditions and in rubber plantations as an inter crop. To further enrich
forest resources, fast-growing timber species such as meranti tembaga,
merawan and sesenduk are also being planted. At the same time, the
cultivation of high-value trees like teak and other trees for pulp and
paper are also encouraged. Rubber, once the mainstay of the Malaysian
economy, has been largely replaced by oil palm as Malaysia's leading
agricultural export.
Tin and petroleum are the two main mineral resources that are of major
significance in the Malaysian economy. Malaysia was once the world's
largest producer of tin until the collapse of the tin market in the
early-1980s. In the 19th and 20th centuries, tin played a predominant role
in the Malaysian economy. It was only in 1972 that petroleum and natural
gas took over from tin as the mainstay of the mineral extraction sector.
Meanwhile, the contribution by tin has declined. Petroleum and natural gas
discoveries in oil fields off Sabah, Sarawak and Terengganu have
contributed much to the Malaysian economy. Other minerals of some
importance or significance include copper, bauxite, iron-ore and coal
together with industrial minerals like clay, kaolin, silica, limestone,
barite, phosphates and dimension stones such as granite as well as marble
blocks and slabs. Small quantities of gold are produced.
In 2004, a minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Mustapa Mohamed,
revealed that Malaysia's oil reserves stood at 4.84 billion barrels
(769,000,000 m³) while natural gas reserves increased to 89 trillion cubic
feet (2,500 km³). This was an increase of 7.2%.[citation needed] As of
January 1, 2007, Petronas reported that oil and gas reserve in Malaysia
amounted to 20.18 billion barrels (3.208×109 m³) equivalent.
The government estimates that at current production rates Malaysia will be
able to produce oil up to 18 years and gas for 35 years. In 2004, Malaysia
is ranked 24th in terms of world oil reserves and 13th for gas. 56% of the
oil reserves exist in the Peninsula while 19% exist in East Malaysia. The
government collects oil royalties of which 5% are passed to the states and
the rest retained by the federal government.
resource : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Malaysia |
