KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Forestry Department wants to clarify the statement by the political secretary to the DCM l, Anuar Abdul Ghani on Sabah’s Nature Carbon Agreement (NCA).
In a news report, he was quoted as saying that he was reflecting the views of the Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan.
The statement released by the Sabah Forestry Department stated that the comments that the delay and non-implementation of the NCA were “self-induced” by the Forestry Department, are misleading. Several requirements has yet to be fulfilled by Hoch Standard (HS), as required by the State Government.
It further reads that the Forestry Department affirms, that it had in June 2023 received a formal request from the Honourable DCM I in his capacity, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry on behalf of HS and its local counterpart, for a “pilot site” which covered 190,051 hectares.
The department further clarified that the site included Nuluhon Trusmadi Forest Reserve (Class l) amongst others. The Department had viewed at that time that such a request was reasonable, as the “pilot site” could test the framework for parts of the NCA, and the potential gains due to the state.
“The “designated area” raised by Anuar is a non-issue as this matter is pending HS’s fulfilling the request of the State Government particularly the addendum that is needed to describe the designated area, and this is subject to the availability of unencumbered areas.”
The Sabah Forestry Department on behalf of the State Government is of the view that Anuar’s comments on behalf of the DCM I that HS should sue the State Government and insinuating untrustworthiness of the State Government are uncalled for.-pr/BNN
