KOTA KINABALU – The United States embassy in Malaysia is renewing all its previous partnerships with Sabah that had been halted due to the pandemic, particularly those involving environment conservation efforts.
During his visit to Kota Kinabalu, US ambassador to Malaysia Brian McFeeters expressed his happiness with Sabah’s conservation efforts, including preserving and increasing the areas of protected forest in the state.
“US President Joe Biden said that the world’s forests are important to tackle the climate crisis, and Malaysia is among the countries that have green lungs.
“We have been talking to Sabah government officials, including the Sabah Forestry Department and Sabah Wildlife Department, about their plans in conservation.
“Their efforts are good news for Sabah, Malaysia and the world,” he said at a press conference here today.
It is McFeeters’ first visit to Sabah, and he discussed cooperation between the US and Sabah on the environment, human rights, public health, and people-to-people exchanges.
He said while the US’ new legislation to address the biodiversity crisis is good news for all, the increased contact between wildlife and humans comes with an increased possibility of diseases crossing over from animals to humans.
As such, the US embassy is now supporting scientists in Sabah for research in diseases and new viral threats that could cross over from animals to humans.
On wildlife conservation, McFeeters said, the US embassy has also been helping develop the capacity of scientists in Sabah so that they can organise poaching cases against wildlife traffickers more efficiently.
During his meetings with Sabah government officials, McFeeters reiterated the US government’s commitment to tackling the climate crisis, combating wildlife trafficking in Malaysia, and working with partners to protect the rich marine resources and forests of Sabah.
As such, the US State Department’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Sabah Wildlife Department, the Danau Girang Field Centre, and other local agencies have become the current beneficiaries of a US$1 million (RM4.19 million) grant for training on combating wildlife trafficking.
On educational programmes between the US embassy and Sabah, McFeeters said he is hoping the Malaysian government will approve the resumption of the embassy’s English Teaching Assistance Programme.
He said the programme is currently on hold partly due to the pandemic, but mainly due to the government’s policy.
“We are hoping to be able to renew the programme. If we get approval from the federal government, we will get volunteers to come into states like Sabah.
“It is something we aspire to do,” he said.
McFeeters also said the embassy will soon send a qualified English language instructor to develop programmes in Sabah.
On business ties, McFeeters said that the embassy provides information to American companies interested in investing in Sabah.
“We provide information and background information about Sabah to companies that wish to invest in the state.
“For example, we would share that Sabah is strong in its tourism sector and it is now recovering,” he said.
On another development, McFeeters stressed that the US government is firm with its stand that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine are completely unacceptable.
“I would like to share the US government’s perspective on Russia’s unprovoked, unjustified, and premeditated attacks on Ukraine; we see that it is completely unacceptable.
“We think that it is important for all countries in the world, including Malaysia, to see how unacceptable it is.
“There should be no situation under which one country tries to change another country’s borders.
“Every country, including Ukraine, should have the right to choose its form of government.
“The US stands in solidarity with Ukraine and continues to put pressure and sanctions whenever we can,” he said.
McFeeters said he is glad that Malaysia has joined 150 other countries and the United Nations Human Rights Council in issuing statements against Russia.
“In that sense, we feel that we do have a good partnership with Malaysia.
“All of us need to keep on putting pressure on Russia anywhere we can,” he added. – The Vibes, March 11, 2022
