KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (SESB) has contributed RM50,000 for conservation purposes, as the state prepares for the construction of the Southern Link road project connecting Sabah’s east and west coast.
The utility company made the contribution to the state Forestry Department for the planting of napier grass, a type of elephant feed.
“This is part of SESB’s corporate social responsibility towards sustainable development and conservation efforts in Sabah, ” said its chief executive officer Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid.
He said SESB has the responsibility to ensure that its infrastructure development projects go well with the sustainability of the environment.
Chief conservator of forests Frederick Kugan said the planting of napier trees is a pilot project to provide an alternative corridor for elephants to reduce human-animal conflicts and to reduce the impact of habitats for these animals as developments are carried out.
This collaboration with SESB was sealed and agreed upon during a meeting between both parties in March this year.
It is part of an initiative to prepare for the scheduled Southern Link Project under the 12th Malaysian Plan which would see a road network of 330km constructed linking Sabah’s east coast and west coast.
This project is expected to be completed by 2025, and 120km of the road will pass through forest reserves in Sabah.
Did you find this article insightful?
