Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

PENAMPANG: The High Court in Kota Kinabalu has dismissed with costs the application by Singapore-based Hoch Standard to strike out the suit by JOAS on the controversial Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA).

 Former Senator and head of Jaringan Orang Asal Sabah head Adrian Lasimbang said this meant that the court order for the disclosure of documents related to NCA earlier is now upheld.

 “As such I will consult my lawyers to demand disclosure of documents from Hoch which Deputy Chief Minister Dr Jeffrey Kitingan claimed were presented to the State Cabinet leading to the signing of the NCA,” said Adrian. The State Government signed the NCA Agreement last October 28, for the purpose of carbon credit trading.

The announcement by Jeffrey drew criticism and prolonged debate over the appointment of Hoch Standard, a little-known firm with no known background in the carbon trading industry and the 30 per cent commission that would go to it.

 Environmentalists and conservationists were concerned about the lack of information and transparency over how the deal was put together.

 In early March, Jeffrey said Sabah Foundation was the local partner to implement the NCA. The company would assist Sabah Foundation by providing the necessary technology and know-how to ensure the implementation of the NCA is done accordingly.