KOTA KINABALU – Sabah opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (Senallang-Warisan) is asking for transparency with regards to the controversial Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) after a letter stating that the agreement has been called off went viral.
Shafie said he had confirmed with state Attorney-General Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof that a letter declaring the NCA with Singapore-based Hoch Standard Pte Ltd null and void was due to a misrepresentation by an individual from the firm.
“We are calling for more transparency as this is a matter of public interest. This involves the authority of the state, where land is a state matter.
“How can we allow state land to be managed by a third party? This is against state law. Matters like this should be discussed at the state legislative assembly,” he told a press conference held at the Warisan headquarters here today.
A letter purportedly issued by the state’s Attorney-General Chambers on the controversial carbon trade deal had leaked last week.
Through the NCA, two million ha of totally protected forest had been allotted for the purpose of the carbon trade deal.
Civil society groups in Sabah have expressed shock at the deal, whose signing ceremony was held in secret in October.
Earlier in the state assembly, a small debate erupted over the NCA after Shafie claimed the signing of the NCA was akin to selling land to a foreign entity.
“We need to improvise our forest management unit, not sell them to others. Can you imagine we are handing over our sovereign rights without even tabling it at the state assembly?
“There is no transparency and responsibility from the government,” said Shafie, adding that it was disappointing Sabah.
Assemblymen Datuk Jahid Jahim (Tamparuli-PBS) and Datuk Joniston Bangkuai (Kiulu-PBS) earlier told Shafie that the land was not sold and would be managed by a third party. – The Vibes, December 6, 2021
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