KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has collected RM5.3 billion in timber royalties from 1999 to 2023 through the Sustainable Forest Management License Agreement (SFMLA), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Friday.
He said the initiative, which averages RM213 million in annual revenue, has also created about 40,000 job opportunities for locals.
Hajiji, whose speech was delivered by State Secretary Datuk Seri Safar Untong, urged the public not to be swayed by sceptical views that hinder the state’s progress.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});Sabah, a pioneer in sustainable forest management since 1997, has licensed 1.4 million hectares of Class II Forest Reserves to 43 SFMLA concessionaires.
Nine licenses have been revoked for non-compliance, while 32 concessionaires were awarded Compliance Certificates for their performance in the 2024 Annual Work Plan.