Participants of the MTCC Calibration Workshop held in Selangor on 14–15 October 2025, organised by the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) with the support of PEFC International.
12 November 2025 – The Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC) organised a two-day Calibration Workshop on 13-14 October 2025 to strengthen technical alignment, audit consistency, and shared understanding among certification bodies and certificate holders under the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS).
With the support of PEFC International, the workshop brought together Certification Bodies for Forest Management Certification (namely SIRIM QAS International Sdn. Bhd. and Control Union (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.), MTCS certificate holders, MTCS peer reviewers, and forestry departments including the Sabah Forestry Department, Forest Department Sarawak, and Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia. The initiative builds on MTCC’s continuous improvement efforts following the 2025 MTCC–PEFC Field Visit Outputs, Recommendations and Action Report, which identified key actions to enhance transparency, reporting quality, and stakeholder participation across the certification process.
A total of 70 participants attended the workshop over the two days, comprising 18 auditors from certification bodies, 2 officers from the Department of Standards Malaysia, 3 representatives from state forestry departments, 2 MTCS peer reviewers, 3 representatives from PEFC International, 2 invited speakers, and 40 MTCS certificate holders.
Enhancing Technical Consistency and Audit Quality
Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray presenting the analysis of audit findings and compliance trends across MTCS-certified forest areas.
Day one opened with a presentation by Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray, Chief Executive Officer of MTCC, on audit trends highlighting recurring non-conformities and improvements across MTCS-certified areas. The analysis offered auditors insights into common challenges faced by certificate holders, forming the basis for further discussions on strengthening audit consistency and interpretation of the MTCS.
Auditors engaging in the group exercise on non-conformities, classification and justification during the first day of the Calibration Workshop.
The following sessions, moderated by Mr. Ian Rowland, Independent Consultant, and facilitated by the MTCC Secretariat, comprised two group case studies designed to strengthen auditors’ understanding and implementation of MTCS. Participants worked in mixed groups of auditors, peer reviewers, and forestry department representatives.
In the first session, case study, groups discussed and raised findings on anonymized non-conformities and provided justifications, reinforcing consistency in interpreting the MTCS. The second session focused on legal frameworks, land tenure classifications, and degazettement processes relevant to forest certification, using realistic scenarios to assess compliance and promote shared understanding across certification bodies.
Participants reviewing and providing feedback on visual aids developed by MTCC to support consistent interpretation of MTCS.
During the subsequent session, Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray introduced a series of MTCC communication materials including factsheets and posters to support consistent interpretation of the MTCS during field audits. Designed as visual aids for auditors, these materials aim to help address queries from local communities and other stakeholders. Participants were invited to review and provide feedback on each draft infographic to assist MTCC in refining the content for clarity, accuracy, and alignment with on-ground needs.
Mr. Rob Shaw (PEFC International) conducting his session on improving consistency in Public Summary reporting across certification bodies.
Following this, Mr. Rob Shaw, Head of Integrity and Standards, PEFC International, led a plenary on maintaining consistency in public reporting across certification bodies. The session reviewed Public Summaries prepared by SIRIM QAS International and Control Union (Malaysia) and benchmarked them against practices from other PEFC-endorsed systems globally. Participants discussed key points, including the use of maps and the reporting template, with the aim of identifying opportunities to align requirements, structure, and format for greater clarity, transparency, and consistency.
Enhancing Audit Practices and Stakeholder Engagement
Day two began with two concurrent sessions for certification bodies and certificate holders. In the certification bodies’ session, Mr. Rob Shaw, conducted a plenary on Writing Clear, Objective Audit Findings followed by a group exercise aimed at improving audit consistency and reporting clarity.
Representative from the Forestry Department of Peninsular Malaysia sharing feedback during the MTCC dialogue session.
Certificate Holder representative sharing feedback sharing feedback during the MTCC dialogue session.
Simultaneously, Ms. Enlynn Khoo, Strategy and Special Project, MTCC, conducted a dialogue session with MTCC certificate holders and forest departments to gather feedback and input for the review of MTCC Strategy and the five-year periodic review of MTCS. The dialogue session was guided by three key themes: (1) Strengthening the SFM Standard; (2) Market Access, Economic Viability, and Scheme Relevance; (3) Governance, Capacity and Future Strategy. The dialogue session was fruitful for MTCC’s consideration for the scheme’s continuous improvement.
Representative from the Perak State Forestry Department sharing feedback during the debrief session by Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray.
Participants from both concurrent sessions, representing certification bodies and certificate holders, later reconvened for a joint session where Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray presented a debrief on the MTCC–PEFC Joint Field Visit findings. She outlined key outcomes and follow-up actions undertaken to promote transparency and support continuous improvement under the MTCS.
The session was followed by a presentation from Mr. Thorsten Arndt, Head of Advocacy, PEFC International, who shared how certificate holders can communicate their best practices, activities, and sustainability commitments more effectively through storytelling.
Participants also benefitted from a series of international presentations on stakeholder engagement and social impact. Mr. Scott Robertson (PEFC International Board Member) shared lessons on Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) through a recorded video; Ms. Thobi Mkhize (Mondi, South Africa) highlighted structured approaches to stakeholder engagement which garnered a lot of interest especially regarding the modern approach taken by Mondi for stakeholder consultation and grievance mechanism; and Mr. Taryanto Wijaya (Primadaya Laras Group, Indonesia) presented insights on social impact assessment and conflict mediation in certification using real examples from various region of Indonesia as lessons learned from international perspective.
Ms. Thobi Mkhize from Mondi, South Africa, responding to a question from a representative of the Forest Department Sarawak during the virtual session on stakeholder engagement.
Mr. Taryanto Wijaya from Primadaya Laras Group, Indonesia, delivering his presentation on social impact assessment and conflict mediation in certification in the Indonesian context.
MTCC’s Commitment to Continuous Improvement
Closing remarks session (from left) Mr. Thorsten Arndt (PEFC International), Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray (MTCC), Mr. Ian Rowland (Independent Consultant), and Mr. Rob Shaw (PEFC International), summarising key takeaways and areas for continuous improvement under the MTCS.
The closing session brought together Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray, Mr. Rob Shaw, Mr. Thorsten Arndt, and Mr. Ian Rowland, who summarised key learnings on audit consistency, field interpretation of the MTCS, and stakeholder engagement. Mr. Rob Shaw also outlined upcoming PEFC priorities, including enhancements to mapping requirements and plans for witness audits in Malaysia in 2026.
Reflecting on the workshop outcomes, Dr. Farrah Shameen Mohamad Ashray underscored MTCC’s next steps: strengthening auditor competency through continuous training and calibration exercises, improving clarity in audit reporting, and reinforcing the linkage between field evidence and relevant MC&I SFM indicators. MTCC will also finalise and release its visual guides and posters incorporating participant feedback to support clearer communication on key topics such as Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) and consistent interpretation of the MTCS.
By facilitating open dialogue and cross-learning among auditors, certification bodies, and certificate holders, the MTCC Calibration Workshop reaffirmed MTCC’s leadership in advancing sustainable forest management and maintaining the credibility of Malaysia’s national timber certification system. Through these continuous capacity-building efforts, MTCC ensures that the MTCS remains robust, transparent, and aligned with international best practices.
About the Malaysian Timber Certification Council (MTCC)
MTCC was established to develop and operate the Malaysian Timber Certification Scheme (MTCS), a voluntary national timber certification program that provides independent audits of forest management practices to ensure sustainability. For over 25 years, MTCC has championed sustainable forest management and responsible sourcing. As the first tropical timber certification scheme in the world to be endorsed by the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), MTCS plays a crucial role in promoting responsible forest management in Malaysia.
Today, MTCS is recognized by national procurement policies in Denmark, United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, Belgium, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands and New Zealand. The scheme is also accepted under the Malaysian Green Building Index and other Green Building Systems in Australia, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Japan, and United Arab Emirates. For example, Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries includes MTCS in its guidelines for the verification of sustainable timber since 2006.
Website: https://mtcc.com.my
Date issued: 12 November 2025