Sabah Parks, UM ink MoU for joint benefits in research

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KOTA KINABALU: A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between Sabah Parks and Universiti Malaya (UM) for joint benefits in the field of research.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry permanent secretary Datu Rosmadi Datu Sulai said that the MoU will enable various research activities to be held.

Additionally, this will also pave the way for joint publications, reports and academic materials to be released.

“On the part of Sabah Parks, the research collaboration will help to manage the protected zones more effectively,” he said at the ceremony held at a hotel near here yesterday.

Rosmadi said that on the part of Universiti Malaya, the cooperation will provide opportunities to carry out various research activities which could be published at the international level.

He added that Universiti Malaya was among the best universities and ranked 114th in the world and it has the capacity to raise the country’s status in research and subsequently help Sabah preserve her environment treasures.

The MoU between Sabah Parks and Universiti Malaya will be valid until 2022.

Rosmadi mentioned that the MoU can help Sabah Parks to improve its management of nine parks consisting of three on land and six marine parks encompassing an area of 12 million hectares and lead to the preservation of the parks’ high aesthetic value for knowledge, scientific research and as sites for recreation in the future.

Meanwhile, University Malaya’s Architecture Faculty Dean, Professor Dr Yahaya Ahmad said that the MoU will open up opportunities for Sabah Parks and the university to share their expertise in various fields so that Sabah can maintain her natural and unique heritage.

Also present at the event were Sabah Parks Board of Trustees chairman Datuk Seri Dr Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Mohamood and Sabah Parks director Dr Jamili Nais.