KOTA KINABALU – The Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) involving a carbon trade deal between the Sabah government and Singapore-based Hoch Standard Pte Ltd still has a long way to go before it can be implemented.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor said that the agreement is still at a very early stage and the state attorney-general is still working on adding a list of requirements that the private company needs to fulfil.
“Even though the agreement has been signed, there are still a lot of matters that need to be fulfilled. It is not as easy as it looks. Only when the state Attorney General’s requirements are fulfilled by the relevant party that this deal can commence.
“A lot of matters have yet to be finalised, including the shares between the Sabah government and the company. We do hope to have a higher share (than 70%).
“If this deal is done, and if it is managed properly, it could add large revenues to the state. The government will be transparent and inform not only the cabinet, but also the state legislature (about the deal) in the future, including details of the deal and the management,” the Sulaman assemblyman told the state legislative assembly in his winding-up speech today.
Hajiji said that the carbon trade aims to add revenue for Sabah, and it will only involve the selling of carbon, and nothing else.
Senallang assemblyman cum Warisan president Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal then said that he is sceptical as to why a foreign company would give Sabah RM10 billion without intervening in land administration and other matters.
Shafie also said that there is a need to set up a select committee to scrutinise the carbon deal as there is no regulatory body at the international and national levels to regulate carbon deals.
“This is about legal matters; if a select committee is set up for this, I don’t mind being in it as well,” he added.
Earlier, Hajiji said that he has handed the power to manage the deal to Sabah chief forest conservator Datuk Frederick Kugan, and has granted permission for Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan to assist in the management of the deal.
Meanwhile, Hajiji announced that all 73 state seats will be allocated RM2 million each to help the rakyat, which includes seats held by the opposition.
However, he said for opposition seats, the government will find a mechanism to channel the allocation to the constituencies.
“We understand that each constituency has its needs; we will find a way on how to channel the allocation to all constituencies,” he said. – The Vibes, December 9, 2021
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