KOTA KINABALU: Killy assemblyman Datuk Joniston Bangkuai hopes that the land-use plan that was said to address the dual needs of development and conservation will not involve sensitive conservation areas.
“Does this new policy have anything to do with the proposal to mine coal in Maliau Basin that is known to scientists and environmental activists in the world as an area rich in flora and fauna?” he asked.
He said Sabah was recognized as a trail blazer in forest conservation owing to the previous government’s effort to create Totally Protected Areas (TPA) that have reached 26 percent of the land mass of Sabah to date, which was double the 11 percent set by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
He said Sabah’s conservation efforts had attracted many foreign tourists to the State to enjoy our natural beauty and richness of flora and fauna.
Joniston wanted to know if the new policy on land use would affect the TPA or whether the focus would be on exploiting areas that are supposed to be conserved.
He pointed out that former federal minister, Tun Lim Keng Yaik, in the 90s, had asked whether the people wanted ‘Monkey or Gold’ when coal mining in Maliau Basin was proposed.
“The previous government had chosen to maintain Maliau Basin’s status as a conservation area and that decision has received positive comments from all over the world who appreciate and regard Sabah as the leader in creating carbon sink. I hope the land use plan by the government will not involve sensitive conservation areas in order to protect Sabah’s image as a destination rich in flora and fauna in the eyes of foreign tourists,” he said, when debating the State Budget 2019 at the State Legislative Assembly sitting yesterday.
Joniston also welcomed the State and Federal Governments’ move to form a high-level committee to review the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).
He said the past state governments of Sabah, including the Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) government that ruled from 1985 to 1994, had been labeled as anti-federal for pursuing the MA63 and 20 Points, but he noted the openness of the Federal Government to discuss and resolve this issue now.
He said MA63 was the concern of all Sabahans, including those in the government and opposition. Hence, he called on all leaders to put aside their political differences and work together towards restoring Sabah rights.
On another note, Joniston urged the government to expedite the upgrade of Kiulu to a sub-district. He said the previous government had approved the matter in January and he hoped that it could be realized by the end of this year.
“The need to upgrade Kiulu to a sub-district is important as the economic development of the agriculture and rural tourism sectors is expected to flourish when the Telipok-Ranau road that passes by Kiulu town and more than 30 villages is completed next year,” he stressed.
He also called on the government to focus more on developing rural tourism that has become an alternative source of income for rural folks.
He said the government should address the poor road conditions and lack of clean water and electricity supply faced by rural tourism operators.