KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has excised about 39,590 acres of land from the former Sabah Forest Industries (SFI) concession to be gazetted as village reserves for local communities.
Assistant Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai said 39,482 acres within the Sipitang Forest Reserve were removed in 2025, following an earlier excision of 108.72 acres in 2023.
He said the move was based on assessments by the Forestry Department and consultations with local communities to ensure the land benefits residents.
Joniston added that matters involving SFI remain subject to legal and administrative processes, with the government monitoring safety and asset preservation.
On plantation resources, he said any monetisation of acacia and eucalyptus must be done transparently, sustainably and in line with legal frameworks.
He also assured that the welfare of affected SFI workers would be considered.