KOTA KINABALU: The state opposition continues to question Sabah's controversial carbon-trading deal under the Nature Conservation Agreement with Singapore-based Hoch Standard Pte Ltd, demanding for more clarity over the deal.

       It involves carbon credits and natural capital over an area of more than two million hectares of state forests for the next 100 years.

       Parti Warisan said it has lodged an official complaint with the Singapore government over claims that the company was backed by multi-billion private equity funding institutions and also the support of the Singapore state investment arm.

       Warisan secretary-general Datuk Loretto Padua said Monday (March 7) that he and party treasurer-general Terrence Siambun have made an official report to Singapore High Commissioner to Malaysia, Vanu Gopala Menon.

       According to Padua, the High Commissioner said the matter will be looked into.

       Padua explained that they sought help from Singapore on the company as various statements by the Sabah Deputy Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, claimed that Hoch Standard was backed by multi-billion private equity funding institutions.

       Padua said checks indicate that Hoch Standard was registered in Singapore on Sept 11, 2019 with a paid-up capital of US$1,000.

       "We want to get to the bottom of the carbon deal that was signed and agreed upon by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government last year without being discussed at the Sabah Legislative Assembly," he said.

       Meanwhile, another opposition politician, Upko Kadamaian assemblyman Ewon Benedick, has submitted a motion for the Sabah Assembly sitting from March 16-24 to discuss in detail the agreement signed with the company.

       Ewon claimed that the content of the one-sided agreement brought no benefit to Sabah and the people based on international protocols on carbon credit trade.

       "A decision must be made by the DUN to protect the future of Sabahans from any possible financial liability, natural assets, mismanagement and eliminate conflicts between the government and the native communities on customary land claims," he added.

       He said the agreement has also raised questions in the international scientific community involved in climate and environmental conservation.

       Kitingan has denied that the deal was lopsided and disclosed last week that state owned Yayasan Sabah would be the local partner for the carbon trade deal.