Musa putting a book into the shelf to mark the launching of the publi-cation in commemoration of Sabah Forestry Department’s 100th year celebration.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Forestry Department will try anything and everything to increase the value, sanctity and chances of sustainability of the rainforest heritage.
Its director, Datuk Sam Mannan, stated this during the Sabah Forestry Department’s centennial celebration at Padang Merdeka here yesterday.
He recalled that success is a series of mistakes and failures along the way, but the end game is to lead the tropical world, not just South East Asia, in innovative ideas and solutions.
“If we want to make a difference, it must be world class, a model to be proud of. Otherwise, forget it,” he said.
Sam further explained in his speech that Sabah has the world’s first Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified rainforest at Deramakot, the only known Great Apes Survival Project for Orang Utans at Danum Valley and Ulu Segama.
He also listed the South East Asia’s best nature education centre at the Rainforest Discovery Centre (RDC), and the next could be the best Botanical Garden in the tropics here in Kota Kinabalu, better than Central Park, that is just one example, he added.
Sam also said that during the department’s recent visit to the Royal Society in London, the former British High Commissioner to Malaysia had expressed to him that when Sabah’s conservation policy was first launched (starting with preserving Ulu Segama), the British High Commissioner to Malaysia was a bit skeptical.
“But over the years, he indicated that he is pleased and enlightened that we are actually serious and mean business, and I think he is part of the Royal Society team, promoting further collaboration with Sabah,” he explained.
“We have been extremely lucky that the most important decision maker, the Chief Minister, has promised on what he can deliver, and delivered what he actually promised, despite the political risks and earning some unpopularity in the process of choosing the right path,” he said, adding that the Chief Minister has a ‘brave heart’.
Present at the event were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Aman, Sabah State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and chairman of the Tropical Rainforest Conservation and Research Center Bhd, Tun Jeanne Abdullah.