KINABATANGAN: Sabah’s conservation efforts received a significant boost with the formal exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) under the Orangutan Diplomacy Programme on Thursday.
The event, held at the Sungai Pin Conservation Area (SPnCA), gains timely importance following the recent UNESCO designation of Kinabatangan as a Biosphere Reserve.
Datuk Yusran Shah Mohd Yusof, Secretary-General of the Plantation and Commodities Ministry and Chairman of the Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF), emphasized that the programme ensures orangutans can roam freely without disruption from human activities.
He commended Sawit Kinabalu for dedicating 2,632 hectares as a High Conservation Value area, which is home to an estimated 55 orangutans.
To support the initiative, MPOGCF announced a special RM20,000 allocation. Yusran stated that this collaboration strengthens both the conservation agenda and the global credibility of Malaysia’s sustainable palm oil industry.
Sawit Kinabalu Managing Director Datuk Victor Ationg described the SPnCA as a flagship initiative proving that oil palm cultivation can coexist with biodiversity protection.
“SPnCA is a living testament to Sabah’s potential as a global model for sustainable palm oil landscapes,” he said.
The MoU between MPOGCF and Borneo Samudera Sdn Bhd, a Sawit Kinabalu subsidiary, is designed to enhance wildlife protection and solidify Sabah’s leadership in sustainable palm oil production.
Also present were Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC) Chief Executive Officer Belvinder Sron, SKG Green Chief Executive Officer Philipa Datuk Wilfred Mojilis, and MPOGCF General Manager Hairulazim Mahmud, to mention some. – James Leong
