Address issues concerning NCA, 13 CSOs urged the Sabah govt

KOTA KINABALU: A group of 13 civil society organisations (CSOs) have jointly urged the Sabah government to address issues concerning the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) to avoid further confusion on the matter.

The group included WWF-Malaysia, Land Empowerment Animals People (LEAP), Southeast Asia Rainforest Research Partnership (SEARRP), HUTAN, Danau Girang Field Centre (DGFC), Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC), Sabah Environmental Trust, PACOS Trust, Pertubuhan Kota Kita Sabah (KotaKita), Society for Equality, Respect and Trust for All Sabah (SERATA), Kelab Belia Generasi Pemenang Kampung Tempasuk, Undi Sabah and Sabah Human Rights Centre.

In a joint statement here, they said if the NCA was to go forward, the government need to make public the details of the agreement and address the questions that have been brought up.

They were referring to the controversial deal signed with Singapore-based Hoch Standard Pte Ltd in Oct 2021, for the sale of carbon credits from two million hectares of state forests.

"There are serious problems with regards to the NCA that were highlighted previously, that still stand today and aspects of the agreement require further scrutiny.

"The CSO group, therefore, requests clarification on these key concerns.

"Do proponents of the NCA expect to seek compliance with an internationally-recognised carbon standard? If so, which standard and what is the time-frame for project development?" said the group, noting that projects which are not compliant with such standards were generally unsuccessful and do not generate saleable carbon.

"What are the anticipated costs of project development and operation? In particular, what are the cost estimates for the proposed forest restoration activities?

"The NCA operates on the basis of a highly unequal agreement – with all project development and implementation costs residing with the state government.

"Given concerns over additionality and the applicability, practicality as well as the cost of the restoration activities proposed under the NCA, it is unclear if the NCA would generate any income for the State.

"Ultimately, the lack of transparency on the agreement is worrying as we do not have enough information to determine its impact on the State and its people in the long run," they said in the joint statement.

Another concern the group highlighted was whether the project engages the local communities.

However this has been addressed earlier on Thursday, where the support from 16 native NGOs and associations for the NCA implementation has been recorded.

According to Anuar Ghani, political secretary to Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, the natives groups have full understanding of the NCA after listening to a briefing given by him and Hoch Standard Pte Ltd representatives, and have given their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC).

The 16 native groups are Kadazandusun Cultural Association (KDCA), Persatuan Tobilung Bersatu Sabah (Tobisa), Persatuan Bisaya Bersatu Sabah (PBBS), Persatuan Sino Kadazandusun Murut Sabah, Persatuan Suang Lotud Sabah, Persatuan Suku Kaum Tinagas Zon Utara Sabah, Persatuan Bangsa Tombonuo Sabah as well as the Persatuan Rungus Bersatu Sabah.

Also included were Persatuan Kebudayaan & Kebajikan Etnik Kujau, Gana, Nabai Sabah (KGNS), Persatuan Kebudayaan Kaum Tagahas Kampung Goshen, Kota Marudu (Tagahas), Persatuan Etnik Dusun Gobukon Sabah (PEDGS), Pertubuhan Kebudayaan Etnik Sandayo Sabah (PRESS), Persatuan Suku Lobu Sabah, Pertubuhan Kimaragang Malaysia, Persatuan Dusun Luba Sabah (PLDS) and Talantang, said Anuar in a statement earlier on Thursday.