KOTA KINABALU – Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan has asserted that the controversial Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) remains in effect.
He said an individual had misused the Sabah attorney-general’s office to falsely declare the agreement as legally ineffective in the past.
The Sabah deputy chief minister explained that progress on the NCA has been hit by a one-year delay, and he anticipates another 18 months before the agreement yields concrete outcomes.
According to Jeffrey, “someone is playing games” and had used the AG’s office to release statements directly to the media, falsely claiming that the NCA is “legally impotent.”
“The NCA is still in place, but we have lost valuable time. Achieving results will take us 18 more months. To achieve this, we require human capital, aircraft, satellites, and drones,” Jeffrey informed reporters during a press conference here today.
“If the AG's statement was genuine, it should have been conveyed through the appropriate channels rather than being released to the press.”
Stressing that the AG is a part of the implementation committee for the NCA, Jeffrey stressed that the letter should arrive in his hands first.
“Someone is playing games, but I won’t reveal their identity at this point. Eventually, the truth will come to light,” Jeffrey commented, alluding to the alleged AG’s statement.
Jeffrey faced criticism after news outlet Mongabay reported a secret carbon trade deal signed by the state government with Singapore-based firm Hoch Standard Pte Ltd on October 30.
In defence, Jeffrey claimed the carbon trade deal can potentially generate billions of ringgit for Sabah in terms of conservation as opposed to a meagre RM110 million revenue generated from the state forest reserves. – The Vibes, July 27, 2023
