KK & Sabah News-Flash

Land Allocated for Conservation

Sawit Kinabalu Group, which is into the oil palm business, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Sabah Forestry Department setting aside 2,500 hectares of land for conservation purposes.  The land, located in its estate at Sungai Pin, Kinabatanganan area, is still classified as prime jungle and will serve as an area for environmental forest conservation.

Sawit Kinabalu Group was represented by its Managing Director Datuk Othman Walat and the Sabah Forestry Department by the Chief Conservator of Forests Datuk Sam Mannan.  The signing of the MoU took place during the 9^th International Conference on the Heart of Borneo in Kota Kinabalu, Tuesday, with Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman as witness.

During a conference with the media after the signing of the MoU, Othman said that they are usually criticized as being killers of the environment due to their oil palm plantations.  As part of their social responsibility for the support of people’s lives, the 2,500 hectares of land (or over 6,000 acres) is a strategic site linking two conservation animal sanctuary areas (Deramakot and Segaliud).  He added that his company is giving up a few million ringgits worth of production in this transaction.

Actually, this is not the first for Sawit Kinabalu to donate land for conservation purposes.  In 2003, an area of 1,260 hectares in Sungai Pin Estate was identified for said purpose.  Since then, there have been more than 500,000 trees planted and Sawit Kinabalu has decided to make it their social responsibility activity for the environment.

On his part, Mannan said that the 2,500 hectares of land was once a forest reserve but was inhabited by those who came from outside the country.  It was Sawit Kinabalu who drove the encroachers away.  He is confident that the trees of different species will multiply in the said area.

Underprivileged Children Enjoy Treats at Mamutik Island

Underprivileged children from the St. Theresa and De La Salle Hostel located in the rural district of Kota Marudu were treated to a day of fun at Mamutik Island.  There were new facilities at the island and the group composed of 81 underprivileged children were the first users.

For some of the children, this was their first time to be out of the village, ride on a boat and visit another island.  On Mamutik Island, they were treated to games, prizes and good food of Sabah fried noodles, chicken wings and lamb curry.  Tokens were also given for those who are doing well in school.

Bigger Allocation for Sabah Needed

Sabah needs a bigger allocation in the budget in pursuit for its development efforts.  Minister of Special Tasks Datuk Seri Panglima Teo Chee Kang said that they are hoping for its inclusion in the 2018 Budget which will soon be brought up and approved in Parliament.

Teo, who also holds the chairman for the Committee for Revision of State Rights, said that the allocation for Sabah in the 2017 Budget did not answer the needs of the state for development expenses.  He cited projects that need to be undertaken in 2018 onwards so that Sabah will be at par with other peninsular states.