Sabah Parks to manage proposed marine park
RANAU: Sabah Parks will manage the conservation of the proposed Tun Mustapha Marine Park from next year, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.
He said the proposed marine park in the north of Sabah has an area of about one million hectares and covers the waters off Kudat, Kota Marudu and Pitas, as well as 50 islands.
“The State Government is working closely with Sabah Parks in its conservation efforts, for mutual benefit,” he said while launching Sabah Parks’ golden jubilee celebrations, here, Monday night.
He said gazetting of Tun Mustapha Park, aimed at preserving biodiversity, maintaining a balanced development and narrowing the poverty gap at the marine park, was approved by the State Government in 2003. Meanwhile, Masidi said since its establishment 50 years ago, Sabah Parks had achieved various world status recognition for its efforts.
Its most recent accomplishment was the recognition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in June, of the Crocker Range Park as a Biosphere Reserve.
“The nature parks play an important role in providing sustainable ecology resources such as water, clean air and traditional and modern medicine reserves.
“We support Sabah Parks’ drive to preserve our natural environment for the coming generation to appreciate,” he said.
Masidi said seven other parks, namely, Kinabalu Park, Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, Turtle Island Park, Pulau Tiga Park, Pulau Sipadan Park, Tawau Hills Park and Tun Sakaran Marine Park are under Sabah Parks’ management.
Meanwhile, Masidi assured that his Ministry would continue to support every effort planned by the Sabah Parks so that the organisation would continue to become a pride not only for Sabah but also for Malaysia as a whole.
“I have no doubt that with the support from the Government, NGOs, private sectors and every level of the society, Sabah Parks will become the best model with world class management, preservation and conservation system for the natural tropical environment.
“I take this opportunity to thank and congratulate each and every member, past and present, of the Sabah Parks, for their contributions in continuing the legacy of success, which brings so much pride to the people of Sabah,” he said. Also present at the event were Niosh Malaysia Chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, Resource Development and Information Technology Minister-cum-Paginatan Assemblyman Datuk Siringan Gubat, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sabah Parks, Dato Seri Tengku Zainal Adlin Tengku Mahamood, Sabah Parks Director Dr Jamili Nais, Sabah Cultural Board Chairman Datuk Seri Wences Angang, Kundasang Assemblyman Datuk Dr Joachim Gunsalam and District Officer Faimin Kamin.
Source: Daily Express
