28/03/2011 (Daily Express) - Datuk Seri Musa Aman said he is satisfied with the assistance provided by European Union member states towards Sabah's conservation efforts.

"We are keen to collaborate on more conservation programmes," he told an EU delegation comprising 11 ambassadors and three charge d'affaires led by Vincent Piket, at his Sri Gaya official residence, here.

He said the Sabah Government was committed to protecting the environment through conservation efforts of the Forestry Department, and that joint programmes with other countries were important in terms of research and development and exchanging notes.

The delegation was briefed on the State's economic focus, poverty eradication programmes and overall development agenda.

Musa also hoped to see greater interaction with the EU in fields such as education, capacity building, exchange of information and human resource development.

"EU and Sabah can share ideas to move both regions forward, not only in terms of trade and investments, but also by adopting a common ground on important issues such as sustainable development and the green agenda "Let us not limit our potential only to trade exchanges.

In a globalised world, fresh challenges will require us to constantly think out of the box in order for us to better ourselves," he said, at a dinner hosted by the State Government for the EU ambassadors in Malaysia, in conjunction with a familiarisation visit to Sabah, at Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort, Thursday.

His speech was read by Deputy CM-cum-Infrastructure Development Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan. EU is Malaysia's third largest trading partner.

Musa also briefed the delegation on the latest in the State Government's development agenda which started in 2003 with the main focus given to tourism, agriculture and manufacturing as Sabah's engines of growth.

"Our strategy to focus on critical growth areas was the right move, and today, we continue to pursue what we started eight years ago. In 2008, the Federal Government initiated the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC), and through this holistic plan, we aim to turn Sabah into one of the most liveable places in the region by 2025," he said.

He said one of the most important aspects of the SDC is its focus on bridging regional divide within Sabah.

"This is a large state, and our efforts to make sure no one is left out from enjoying growth is clearly outlined in the SDC. Another very critical aspect of the SDC is our commitment to sustainably develop Sabah," he said.

"This is a state that is blessed with many natural attractions and resources - both on land and at sea - and we are making every effort to ensure that we are able to protect and conserve our rich heritage."

Musa said just last month the State Government managed to get the nod from the Federal Government to cancel plans to build a coal-fired power plant.

"Malaysia won world accolades as a result of this move based on the fact that we have rich biodiversity resourcesÉpower supply still remains a critical issue for us to solve, and while the Federal Government has agreed to use more gas for Sabah's electricity needs, I believe we must also find solutions through renewable energy and green technologies," he said.

He said, perhaps, this is an area the EU would be interested in helping us develop through technical collaboration and capacity building.

Musa assured that the State Government has implemented Sustainable Forest Management principles in Sabah with much money now being spent on rehabilitating degraded forests. "Despite the challenges in implementing Sustainable Forest Management, we have not given up on our efforts."

He said it was not just value in certified timber that Sabah is pushing for, but the very many other environmental services that a sustainably managed forest offers.

Wildlife such as Orang Utan and Borneo Pygmy Elephants are found in Sabah's forests, and our tropical jungles are also important biodiversity banks for the pharmaceutical and medical fields, apart from serving as carbon storage facilities.

He said most tourists who are drawn to Sabah come here just to get a glimpse of our wildlife and to experience our forests.

"Researchers and scientists, too, are drawn to protected forests such as in Maliau Basin and Danum Valley," he said. The delegation is scheduled to visit some of the forestry sites today.

Musa said sustainability is currently the key word in the production of commodities, especially palm oil, an edible oil that has had its share of negative reporting, adding with global demand, in particular from the EU calling for sustainably produced palm oil, the local industry has taken the lead under the ambit of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

Considering that 30 per cent of the total oil palm planted area in Malaysia lies in Sabah, he said the Government is continuously encouraging planters in the State to become part of the RSPO and adhere to its guidelines.

"The State Government on its part initiated the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) to support wide ranging downstream manufacturing and research potentials from palm oilÉusing biomass waste to generate electricity is one of the initiatives that we are now pursuing," he said.