KOTA KINABALU: State-owned Yayasan Sabah has been chosen to be the local partner to implement the state’s carbon credit sales deal under the Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA).

       Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan said on Friday (March 4) that the appointment of Yayasan Sabah was agreed upon by the Sabah Cabinet on Wednesday (March 2).

       He said Yayasan Sabah was expected to work closely with Singapore-based Hoch Standard Pte Ltd to implement the NCA.

       He said Hoch Standard would assist Yayasan Sabah in this new role by providing the necessary technology and know-how to ensure the implementation of NCA is done accordingly.

       “Yayasan Sabah will sign a separate service agreement with Hoch Standard.

       “Under the service agreement, Hoch Standard is expected to pay Yayasan Sabah 5% of its gross revenue from activities related to the NCA,” he added.

       The NCA, which was signed in November last year, has drawn severe criticism from conservationists and politicians with many questioning the experience of the Singapore-based company.

       There were also questions over details of which of the state’s forest reserves were being placed under the NCA.