KOTA KINABALU: Former DAP senator Adrian Lasimbang seems unlikely to rejoin the party despite overtures made for his return, and has gone into social activism instead.

       He has just taken up the presidency of NGO Pertubuhan Suara Anak Sabah to focus on issues facing natives in the state.

       Lasimbang, who quit DAP along with two assemblymen on Jan 20, said he intended to highlight various issues through the NGO, including native customary rights and the controversial carbon trading deal.

       He said the NGO's supreme council decided to appoint him president on Wednesday (Jan 26) and he accepted it.

       Lasimbang said the people deserved an explanation of the proposed carbon trading deal under the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA) as it has become controversial and impacted the state's indigenous people.

       "I am proposing a roadshow throughout Sabah to explain the essence of this agreement and how it can have a good and bad impact on the community, especially those who still depend on the forests," he said.

       The NGO focuses on helping farmers, women and youths by organising courses related to economic improvement to lift them out of poverty.

       "I am not entirely against (the carbon trading deal) as long as the rights of indigenous peoples are recognised and the deal is done in a transparent manner. It should not be like the current proposed NCA," he added.

       Lasimbang, whose family is known for working with the native grassroots in Sabah, has yet to accept an offer for him to rejoin DAP.

       On Jan 21, Lasimbang said that he and two others quit the party due to "godfather-style" politics.

       He blamed state chairman Datuk Frankie Poon's ineffectiveness for his resignation along with assemblymen Calvin Chong (Elopura) and Justin Wong (Sri Tanjong).

       His sister - Kapayan assemblyman Jannie Lasimbang - has remained with the party.