We want Sabah to remain green, says Masidi
Published on: Thursday, May 09, 2024
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
Masidi represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, when officiating the Sabah Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) Initiatives Awareness Forum 2024, here on Tuesday.
Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government has pledged to continue ensuring the State remains green, said State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He said the State Government is serious and committed to protecting the environment and its sustainability when it had launched an important policy of making sure 30 per cent of Sabah is covered by total protected forest by 2025.
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“I think among other steps in Malaysia, we have shown the way that we (Sabah Government) are serious about environment, sustainability of the environment.
“If I’m not mistaken, 15 years ago, we launched this a policy of making sure that 30 per cent of Sabah will remain a permanent forest by 2025.
“In fact, I’ve just been told by the Director of Sabah Forestry Department that we (Sabah) have reached 27 per cent of the policy and its targeted goal, which I think this is a very good achievement,” he said.
Masidi represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, when officiating the Sabah Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) Initiatives Awareness Forum 2024, here on Tuesday.
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The ESG Initiatives Awareness Forum is a collaborative endeavour between Invest Sabah Berhad (ISB), ESG Sabah Chapter and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS).
Some 400 delegates took part in the event comprising distinguished government officials, esteemed executives from government subsidiaries, academicians, foreign investors and representatives from non-governmental organisations.
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Also present were Invest Sabah Berhad Deputy Chairman George Wong Hseuh Cheng, its Chief Executive Officer Dr Firdausi Suffian, ESG Malaysia President Steven Lee, ESG Malaysia Sabah Chapter President Edward Chua and senior officials.
By next year (2025), Masidi said over 50 per cent of Sabah would remain green and the forests remain.
“In environment, we only need to sustain it and that is where I think we need to convert or we need to go to greener fuel. And that basically is, I think some of the topics will be discussed later (in the forum).
“So, if I may say with all the pride, just to show to you how serious we were in making sure that the environment is given top priority. Most important thing, I mean, priority 15 years ago which I give you statistic, here.
“In 1978, the revenue from timber in Sabah was RM1 billion and this year, I have just been informed by the Forestry Department in my capacity as the State Minister of Finance, that they (the department) is only aiming, if it can, to generate a revenue of RM165 million.
“What does it mean? A billion Ringgit in 1978 and this year, RM165 million. This stated that we have taken serious different considerations and that we don’t cut trees as we used to do. And that we want to make sure that Sabah remains green,” Masidi said.
For that reason, he said the State government could assure that Sabah would always be in the forefront of being a spokesperson of the green movement in Malaysia.
“We (Sabah), being the spokesperson with credibility in (protecting and sustaining) the environment because we have done it and we have shown it (our dedicated efforts producing proven positive results in continuing protecting the environment) that it can be done and we have achieved it.
“It’s important for us when we talk about ESG, we talk about building character of people who help corporations, who help government, who help organisations.
“This is where I hope, can also remind to all participants, the need for us to come up with leaders with integrity, with strong character and integrity,” he said.
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