KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is currently making adjustments to its Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) in preparation for a carbon trading deal, according to Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor (pic).
The Chief Minister stated that they are reviewing the terms and conditions of the agreement to ensure compliance with the requirements for Sabah’s participation in carbon trading.
“We are still fine-tuning the details. It is beneficial for us to explore this industry. Our forests hold the potential for lucrative returns, but we must manage our areas and water sources effectively,” he explained to reporters on Tuesday (August 1) when asked about the current NCA deal.
Hajiji, who spoke to reporters after awarding state scholarships to 40 top SPM students, emphasized that the carbon trading venture could generate substantial revenue, but it must be carried out properly and in accordance with the necessary criteria.
On July 27, Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan confirmed that the NCA with Singapore-based Hoch Standard Pte Ltd, signed on October 28, 2021, had not been shelved and remained on track.
He clarified that no formal objections had been raised by the state Attorney General Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof, who stated in a media statement in February 2022 that the NCA could not be enforced in its current form.
According to Yusof, unresolved issues included the identification of a designated area, pilot area, map, development management plan, and consent from affected communities.
Kitingan stated that Yusof’s objections had not been officially submitted to the state Cabinet or the steering and management committee responsible for implementing the NCA, which he leads.
Kitingan claimed that “somebody is playing around,” but assured that they are still on track to fulfill the requirements necessary for Sabah to benefit from carbon trading.
He warned that if the implementation of the NCA continued to be delayed, the state would lose billions of ringgit in revenue.
A group of conservationists and opposition politicians have criticized the deal, urging the state government to be more transparent about it.
Kitingan defended their transparency, stating that they have provided explanations to various groups regarding the deal involving two million hectares of the state’s forests.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
