Newly-minted Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg has allowed the issuance of short-term timber licences in the state through a tender process.

Abang Johari, who came to power after Adenan Satem's death last month, said this was to ensure transparent issuance of the licences.

“Short-term timber licences are only issued for state land forest which have been approved for development and Native Customary Land (NCL) Development Area and Native Communal Reserve that shall undergo development.

"These licences shall be issued by open tender,” he said in a statement today.