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IF Albizia is famous as the world’s fastest-growing hardwood, then hybrid Albizia is faster, taller and straighter still.

Its sheer stellar growth rate has stunned even seasoned timber veterans.

In a little over a year, it has reached 7.2 metres (24ft) in height, with a mean diameter of 9.2 centimetres – about two metres taller than conventional Albizia of the same age – and is expected to soar to 40 metres (131ft) at full maturity.

A real breakthrough, open for the world to see, at Jawala Plantation Industries in Sapulut. A research and development game-changer, the hybrid is the result of Sarawak’s relentless industrial tree plantation (ITP) push towards planted forests.

The economic, commercial and market impacts of this breakthrough could be enormous for the timber industry and that is the whole point! The best part? It is the outcome of a trusted collaboration between Sabah’s and Sarawak’s timber sectors over the past three years.

With demand for ITP logs from local mills getting bullish, market prospects for the timber look promising, especially for the panel and plywood industries because of its clean, knot-free trunk.

Shift in ITP mindset – commercial harvest in four to five years

“So, I am looking at commercial harvest at a much earlier age – four to five years,” a jubilant Rahman Khan, Executive Director and CEO of Jawala Plantation Industries, said in a special interview.

“I have been working with the Sarawak Timber Association for the past three years.

“Since July 2023, the Sarawak Timber Association and Jawala established a working relationship following a visit by its Forest Plantation Committee to the Jawala camp.

“It began with information sharing and development exchanges, leading to bi-annual meetings between the two parties. These meetings culminated in research and development collaboration on hybrid Albizia trials.

“STA provided the Albizia seeds in October 2024 for trials at Jawala’s Forest Management Unit (FMU) to observe their growth potential.

“Jawala subsequently developed 67 hectares of this Albizia Belaga, which has shown exceptional growth, recording a mean diameter of 9.2cm and a mean height of 7.2 metres after just one year and four months.”

Rahman said both parties continue to exchange information on ITP development.

“We share and exchange information on the development of ITP between Jawala and the Sarawak forest plantation companies under the Sarawak Timber Association.

“Previous visits sparked discussions on potential collaboration, particularly in exchanging planting materials and adopting mechanised systems for plantation maintenance.

“Both parties recognised the benefits such collaboration could bring to advancing forestry practices in the region.”

Sarawak provides the hybrid seeds

Talks soon turned into action.

“What they have done is provide us with seeds of Albizia that have been hybridised and localised in Sarawak.

“I actually visited the plot two years ago. I was very impressed. The trees were very straight, very different from the Albizia that I grow.

“Using the seeds they provided, Jawala has planted and developed about 67 hectares of this hybrid Albizia. It is now one year and four months old.

“At this stage, it has reached a mean height of about 7.2 metres and a mean diameter at breast height of about 9.2 centimetres, which is far better than my own Albizia.”

Outstanding characteristic – exceptionally straight

“It straightens the tree form.

“Albizia is normally bent, but this one is very, very straight. There is one straight bole (trunk), one main stem and only the branches spread out.

“So what we are going to do is take our R&D effort to the next level.

“We are going to formalise and expand the research on this Albizia together with my Sarawakian colleagues.”

Early trials and ‘mother trees’

“The next step is to carry out further trials.

“I am targeting the age of 2½ to 3 years to begin peeling trials because the mean annual increment in girth is very encouraging.

“I believe we can already begin peeling trials at that age.

“What I really hope to do is, while acclimatising the Albizia at Jawala, we will also identify and select breeding trees – mother trees – whose seeds can eventually be sent back to Sarawak to determine whether, after acclimatisation in Jawala, they will also produce superior trees there.”

The outcome in Sarawak remains to be seen.

Peat soil limits Sarawak ITP

“As you know, the soil conditions in Sarawak – peat soils that are waterlogged and oxygen-poor – are not as favourable as Sabah’s.

“So we never know.

“After being acclimatised in Jawala, the trees may produce different results in Sarawak.

“On Sabah’s side, after the peeling tests, we will continue enhancing our R&D, including laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and other value-added products.

“That is the plan.”

Rahman is optimistic.

“I am confident this hybrid Albizia will probably be the answer for Albizia buyers in the future because there will be less wastage, not only at the plantation but also at the factory, simply because of its straight form.”

Two national gold standards impressed Sarawakians

“So, it’s a blessing that Jawala was selected by Sarawak,” he reflected.

On the other hand, Sarawakians also recognised that Jawala had already achieved two national gold standard benchmarks – the Best Model Forest Plantation in Malaysia Award 2023 from the Malaysian Timber Council and the Malaysia Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Corporate Excellence Award 2022.

What exactly did the Sarawakians hybridise?

“They cross-bred various Albizia varieties originating from Belaga, a remote district in Kapit Division, Central Sarawak.

“That is why I have named my 67-hectare compartment at Jawala the ‘Belaga Compartment’.”

Sarawak’s Forest Strategy identifies fast-growing species such as Albizia as a key component of its plan to establish one million hectares of industrial planted forests by 2025.

“So far they have planted Albizia, Eucalyptus pellita and Acacia mangium.

“They have made significant progress despite their soil conditions being less favourable than Sabah’s.”

Gunning for commercial harvest in four to five years

Daily Express: If you succeed in switching to hybrid Albizia, what will be the impact on Jawala?

Rahman: “Well, if this grows well, the impact on Jawala is that we will be able to harvest the Albizia at a much earlier age. I’m looking at commercial harvest in four to five years.

“With a straight tree form, there will be very minimal wastage, not only at the plantation but also at the factories because of the straight form of the trees. That’s where I think the factories will achieve higher recovery from their processing.”

Daily Express: What’s the impact of crooked trees, since you say the current Albizia trees are not so straight?

Rahman: “Lower recovery rates and higher wastage.”

Daily Express: By how much? Is it significant?

Rahman: “It depends on the customers. Different customers have different requirements. Some request a minimum log length of four metres, others three metres, while some can even accept 1.3 metres.

“But there’s a lot of trimming that needs to be done because of the crooked form of conventional Albizia.

“Now look at the hybrid Albizia in the pictures. They’re totally straight.

“I have to congratulate the Sarawakians. This is a real breakthrough in hybridising Albizia and transforming it from a crooked tree into a straight one.

“I also congratulate the Sarawak Timber Association because they have invested RM6 million in R&D for industrial tree plantations.

“They provided the seeds, while Jawala funded the planting and development. It is truly a collaboration.

“I have assured them that I will look after the project and continue developing it at our own cost.”

Game changing Borneo Bloc collaboration – happening on the ground while politicians talk

“People have been talking about the Borneo Bloc. Well, this is a commercial Borneo Bloc initiative already taking place between the timber sectors of Sabah and Sarawak.

“It’s something very positive because it is happening on the ground.

“I feel honoured to have had the opportunity to work with them. It is a tremendous opportunity for the development of this region.

“This is a real game-changer.

“And yes, the Borneo Bloc has already been established in the timber industry. That’s another very positive development.

“I must thank the Sarawak Forestry Department, the Sarawak Timber Association and the companies involved.

“I travel there regularly. We are now into our third year of collaboration, and it has produced very encouraging results.”

Learning big-time from Sarawak’s ‘struggles’

“There is much to learn from Sarawak.

“They have already established 594,553 hectares of industrial tree plantations under an ambitious State policy to develop one million hectares. They have achieved this despite soil conditions that are less favourable than Sabah’s.

“Why do I say Jawala has learned so much from Sarawak?

“Because we have learned how they manage forest plantations under unfavourable soil conditions.

“As I have often been invited to speak in Sarawak, I share the Jawala story there. At the same time, I learn from the challenges they face.

“It has been a very positive experience.

“I always say that you don’t learn only from success. You also learn from people who struggle and how they overcome those struggles.

“When you combine both experiences, Jawala becomes a much stronger and more dynamic company.

“We intend to share everything we have learned and achieved with everybody in Sabah and even abroad.

“Hopefully, something good will come out of this collaboration.

“So far, the results have been very, very encouraging.

“They have given me the opportunity to speak and share our experiences, but perhaps the most valuable lesson I have learned from Sarawak is to learn from the struggles.

“When it comes to yields, Sabah is still more productive because we have better alluvial soils and higher rainfall.

“For industrial tree plantations, Sabah’s soil conditions are definitely more favourable.”

Debunking ITP logs myth 

IS it a myth that mills in Sabah cannot accept industrial tree plantation (ITP) logs?

Ask Rahman Khan, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Jawala Plantation Industries, which began commercial harvesting of its ITP logs in late March.

“We are now delivering to Tawau (IWP). We’ll be delivering to Sook (Kosinar, a Japanese-owned mill). And we’ll be delivering to Sandakan again.

“So, you know, there is this concern that mills in Sabah cannot take ITP logs. We have proven otherwise,” Rahman asserted himself.

He noted that Jawala has expanded its customer base significantly since Daily Express first interviewed him in 2023.

“Back then, I was only selling to IWP in Tawau. Now we have expanded to several customers. We have gone back to the Japanese-owned Kosinar mill in Sook, where we first conducted our trials, and they are now one of our customers.

“And in Sandakan, I have already delivered cargo to Sinora.”

ITP log market now established

Daily Express: So you have no problem finding buyers?

Rahman: “That is critical. If nobody buys, then you have a problem. But I can assure you that if Jawala had not invested in research and development since 2020, we would not be where we are today.

“We would not be delivering logs to factories today. It is because of all those trials – and perhaps tribulations – that the market has now been established.”

Breaking the 10- to 12-year mindset

Rahman believes Jawala has also disproved the long-held perception that industrial tree plantations require 10 to 12 years before harvesting.

“We have managed to bring forward harvesting through the R&D that we have undertaken. In everybody’s mind, ITP means 10 to 12 years.

“Now imagine this – Jawala is commercially harvesting trees that are only seven and eight years old.

“I still want to emphasise that the future lies in forest plantations.”

A vision for Sabah’s forests

Rahman said Jawala’s long-term mission is to reduce dependence on natural forests for commercial timber production.

“Our mission is to replace and substitute the utilisation of tropical timber with timber from industrial tree plantations. That vision is now becoming a reality.

“I foresee continuing to engage with the Government on gradually releasing natural forests from commercial production so they can be conserved and managed for carbon sequestration.”

He believes Sabah should progressively reverse its dependence on natural timber.

“What is the ultimate target? I am looking at a ratio of 20 to 30 per cent tropical timber and 70 to 80 per cent ITP. If you ask me whether that is possible, you have seen it for yourself.”

Fast-growing species can replace natural timber

Rahman said several fast-growing plantation species possess wood densities suitable for structural applications.

“Eucalyptus pellita, Acacia mangium and other fast-growing species have densities of 600 kilograms per cubic metre and above, making them suitable alternatives to timber such as Kapur, Keruing and Selangan Batu.”

He said plantation timber could replace species that normally require about 70 years to mature.

“The whole world is looking towards timber as an environmentally friendly, renewable alternative to steel, cement and concrete for structural applications. Advanced economies are already moving in that direction, and Sabah should do the same.”

Sabah should target 80 per cent ITP

Rahman said Sabah should gradually reverse its current harvesting ratio.

“Today, our ratio is probably 80 or 90 per cent tropical timber and only 10 to 20 per cent ITP.

“Let’s reverse those numbers to 20 per cent tropical timber and 80 per cent ITP.

“That is our vision and mission, and I believe it can be achieved.”

He also commended the Sabah Government for incorporating industrial tree plantations into the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 development blueprint.

“I am happy to tell the Government that Jawala has delivered a commercial harvest under SMJ 1.0.

“The aspirations of the SMJ Development Plan for ITP – Jawala has delivered.”

Briefing Sarawak Premier

Rahman said he had the opportunity to brief Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg during the International Forest Plantation Conference in Kuching last November.

“The Sarawak Forest Department requested that Jawala brief the Premier on our development of Laran and the products we have developed.

“I presented him with plywood produced from our seven-year-old Laran plantation, featuring a carved portrait of the Premier. The artwork was done in Sabah.”

Rahman hopes Sabah’s Chief Minister will also attend future forest plantation conferences as the State promotes itself as a destination for industrial tree plantation investment.