CM MUSA’S MIDAS TOUCH ON YS

By: MOHD JEFRI RADIUS

WHAT define the greatness of a man? Edward Garner, a Western Philosopher possibly has the best answer to this question, “ It is not what you take but what you leave behind that defines greatness.”

This is the facts and reality which people in many under developed or developing countries have yet to comprehend fully the context and value of appreciating the significant contributions made by their leaders in the government of the day towards the National Building Concept.

The former British Colony of North Borneo which achieved independence 47 years ago via the Federation of Malaysia now known as Sabah and popularly dubbed as ‘The Land Below The Wind’ is a case in point, where leaders in the ruling party are not spared from the blunt of wild and baseless accusations made by the Opposition blocks

Since the dawn of independence, Sabah has been administered by 14 Chief Ministers, each had played their roles while being vested with the power during their terms of office, whoever took helm of the State Administration would officially become The Chairman of Yayasan Sabah Group (YSG), the State owned agency which has several subsidiaries companies down the line considered as a segment of ‘The Cash Cow’ to the growth of Sabah economy.

The YSG was conceptualised way back in 1966 by virtue of Enactment No: 8 of The Sabah State Legislative Assembly during the crux of the late Tun Mustafa’s USNO State Administration for three primarily missions :

1. To provide Education and the relevant facilities for every Malaysian youth in the State;

2. To create social and economic opportunities to be equally distribute among the people of Sabah;

3. To cater aids to charitable institutions and victims of natural disasters.

The attainment of these three noble aims were made possible through the spinoff of funds generated from timber harvesting, reforestration and conservation ventures within the vast area of timber concession covering approximately a million hectares state wide.

Since its inception YSG has wide range of commercial diversifications in tandem with the requirement of the day by way of venturing into new economic sector such as Agro Plantation , Real Estate Development , Shipping, Hospitality and Tourism Industry in mid 80’s .

Just recently the organisation has embarked on the commercialisation of Horticulture and Biotechnology sectors from its mainstream forestry activity , apart from venturing into the Food and Fisheries Industries including the Oil and Gas Industry, Information Technology and Mice Destination.

Generally, the YSG social contribution comprises Social Development Programme- People Development (Socio-Economic & Cultural Development apart from Intellectual & Mind Development, Education, Research & Economic Development etc.)

Corporate Social Responsibilities mainly include Conservation & Environmental Management, whereby the conservation of four pristine rainforest area within the YSG concessions, had become a reality namely Danum Valley (43,800 hectares), The Maliau Basin (58,840 hectares) The Imbak Canyon (30,000 hectares) and The Tumunong Hulu (171 hectares).

In my lengthy comment entitled ‘A future CM mustn’t undo present effort’ (Daily Express Forum 20th June 2010) reads; The UMNO led BN State Government under CM Datuk Seri Musa Aman has done well to bring about realistic initiatives in the implementation of the essential Conservation Concept of our State Forest Reserve Landscapes.

He was quoted as saying, “There is a great need to foster and enhance awareness on the importance of environmental protection and conservation through environmental education (DE 13th May 2010). ”

Retrospectively, on April 1995 the signing of The Conditional Sale & Purchase Agreement between Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd (ICSB) the investment arm of YSG with The North Borneo Timbers Bhd (NBT) to ICSB shareholding in Sabah Softwood Sdn Bhd had marked a historic event in the State Timber Industry.

The Reforestation Agreement in question would cover a 100, 000 hectares of logged over area. The current CM Datuk Musa Aman was`then the signatory for ICSB in his capacity as a Director /Chief Executive ICSB under the Chairmanship of the then CM Datuk Salleh Tun Said Keruak. Musa took over from Datuk Khall Datu Hj Jamalul as director in March 1995.

Since taking over the helm of the State Administration from Tan Sri Chong Kah Kiat in 2003 as the 14th Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman has done many significant contributions for the State that the people can be proud of, despite strings of controversies being heard yelled from some corners of the State.

Some of the fine examples are appended as follows:-

On February 28th 2005, YSG via its Investment Vehicle Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd had signed an Agreement with Shell Malaysia upstream company, Sabah Shell Petroleum Co.Ltd, to continue using The Deep Water Jetty at Usukan Port as an embarkation and disembarkation point for the Offshore Operations in North Sabah Water, thereby making the YSG as one among the premier Oil & Gas service provider in the country.

On March 28th 2005, The State Government through its various departments and agencies including YSG, organised an International CEO’s Conference for the first time with the Theme entitled ‘Global Issues and Challenges Facing Asian Corporations’ attended by 625 top businessmen including 87 foreigners from 31 countries and would be held consecutively every three years in Sabah.

CM Musa was quoted as saying while officiating the conference; “Sabah has all the charms to offer, with 50 ethnic groups of different religions, customs and traditions, nevertheless, our people live harmoniously despite their diverse backgrounds in the true sense of diversity. The conference would enable visiting delegates to learn for themselves security situation and political stability in the State. It would also allow the State Government to learn its strengths and weakness in organising such events.” (Berita Yayasan Sabah Jan – April 2005)

The signing of the Memorandum of Undertanding (M.O.U) between ICSB and India’s Pulp & Paper manufacturing giant Ballapur Industries Ltd in Sept 2006, had thus paved the way for the two to venture into the pulp and paper making business .

CM Musa, who is also the Finance Minister and Chairman Yayasan Sabah Board Of Trustee ever told reporters upon his return to Sabah from a week official trip to India; “Some 60, 000 hectares of area under the Forest Management Unit has been identified in the Interior including Sipitang & Tenom for Pulp & Paper Project, whereby about 36,000 hectares has been found to be suitable for replanting, the process of which would follow the guide line under the principle of Sustainable Forest Management.” (Berita Yayasan Sabah Jan – April 2006 Edition)

On 8th Feb 2007, CM Musa declared open the Tamoi Bridge, Tongod which was built at the cost of about RM 3.5 million by a private company Maxland Sdn Bhd, while officiating the Millian Forestry Centre in Kuamut, Musa said; “Timber companies gaining profits should not forget the social obligation to help the local communities especially those living close to their concessions.”

The large scale development of logged over area into Oil Palm Plantation constituted as part of YSG ‘s economic contribution to the State. Benta Wawasan, wholly owned by YSG is a case in point, whereby it has identified 40,000 hectares of such area suitable for growing oil palm. Since 2004, about 15,600 hectares had been planted with oil palm, while 15,000 hectares planted with exotic fast growing tree species Acacia Mangium that will be harvested to make way for oil palm plantation. The target is by 2013, the entire area will be fully cultivated with one type of plantation namely Oil Palm.

YSG through its investment vehicle Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd have sealed several Memorandum of Understanding with the following foreign investors just to mention a few fine examples:-

a) On march 2009 with P.S.C (EMIVEST) of Dubai U.A.E to undertake property development in the State.

b) On April 2009 with the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (IPNG) to cooperate in the implementation of Sustainable Forest Management, Agriculture, Biotechnology and Human Resources Development for mutual benefit.

We can list strings of Musa’s Midas Touch on the YSG while vested with the trust in managing the State Owned corporation while steering the helm of the UMNO led BN State Government . Perhaps it worth pondering what Mr. Selvaraja, a West Malaysian Writer has pointed out in his recent comment giving testimonial to the present State leader’s effort with the topic, MUSA AMAN: AN APPRAISAL (Sabahkini.net 08th October 2010)

“First, Musa Aman’s innovative and sustainable forest management solution needs praises. Yes. Musa Aman’s work with Yayasan Sabah which is the largest forest concessionaire in Sabah and the way he managed and protected core forest reserves to ensure the responsible management of ‘working forests’ that gives Sabah timbers, jobs, sustainable economies, wildlife habitat, fresh water and stable climate, needs praises. Truly Musa has done a fantastic job here compared with the earlier chief ministers who ere only good in cutting trees and had absolutely no ideas at all on forest conservation.

Yayasan Sabah is responsible for the management of approximately one million hectares of forest in Borneo, including forest in the Danum Valley, Maliau Basin and Imbak Canyon and is the home to the highest biodiversity in Sabah. Musa Aman has actually done some good conservation work here. Need to acknowledge this.

The Danum Valley Conservation Area, the brainchild of Musa Aman, one of the last pristine lowland tropical rainforest which is roughly 80,000 acres of formerly logged forest is home to one of the highest concentrations of orang-utans in the world and has clouded leopards, pygmy elephants and over 300 bird species inhabiting in this area.

Thanks to Musa Aman, a deal was made possible between an American group and the Sabah State Government to restore and protect this 80,000 acres of badly logged forest. Eco Products Fund, a private equity fund which is jointly managed by New Forests Inc. Of Washington D.C and Equator Environment, LLC of New York City, join hands with the Government of Sabah for this purpose.

Hence, the Malua Wildlife Habitat Conservation Bank and Malua BioBank was set up with multimillion dollar investment to restore and protect the roughly 80,000 acres of the formerly logged forest. Nothing like this has ever been done before for the biodiversity in tropical rainforest.”

May we look forward to the progress of YSG under the capable chairmanship of CM Musa and the Board of Trustee, in the implementation of its Social and Economic contributions to the State for the benefit of every Malaysian in Sabah.