PAPAR: Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd (Sabah Electricity) planted 500 berembang mangrove trees in Kampung Seri Serbang, Bongawan, to help reduce riverbank erosion, conserve biodiversity and support the local community’s ecotourism potential.
Its Chairman Datuk Saadiah Aziz said the initiative through the CSR Cahaya Serbang Programme, held in collaboration with Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), reflects Sabah Electricity’s ongoing commitment to carrying out corporate social responsibility (CSR) rooted in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) sustainability.
She said a total of 150 people were involved in the programme, comprising the local community, staff from Sabah Electricity and UMS, specifically the Faculty of Tropical Forestry, which provided advisory services to ensure the mangrove planting was carried out in suitable locations to deliver maximum impact.
“Among the aspects given attention were areas vulnerable to erosion, including the riverbanks in this area. Therefore, it is hoped that planting these mangrove trees will help preserve the riverbanks and support the conservation of the natural ecosystem.
“This is because these mangrove areas also serve as a habitat for various wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, alongside being famous for night-time firefly attractions,” she said when met at the programme here Sunday.
At the same time, she said that efforts to preserve the area are not only vital for environmental protection, but also hold potential to enhance ecotourism appeal, thereby bringing economic benefits to the local community.
“When we look after this area, we are not only preserving the environment, but indirectly contributing to ecotourism development by attracting more visitors to enjoy the unique biodiversity of this area,” she said.
In line with this, she said Sabah Electricity is committed to continuing tree-planting programmes every year as part of the company’s sustainability efforts, including mangrove conservation activities and reforestation in forested areas.
Saadiah said Sabah Electricity plans to carry out tree planting in selected forest areas in Sandakan this November to expand its environmental conservation efforts.
She added that this tree-planting commitment has also been incorporated into Sabah Electricity’s corporate Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to ensure its execution forms part of the company’s annual responsibilities.
She said Sabah Electricity previously carried out mangrove tree planting at the Darau Wetland last year as a continuation of its environmental preservation efforts.
“In 2022, Sabah Electricity contributed RM50,000 for the Enrichment Corridor project in the Maliau Basin through the planting of Napier grass as an alternative food source for Borneo pygmy elephants.
“Meanwhile, in 2024, a contribution of RM50,000 was also provided to the Sabah Forestry Department for restoration efforts on 10 hectares of degraded forest in Ulu Kukut, Kota Belud.
“Hence, environmental preservation cannot be achieved in isolation, as cooperation with other parties, including local communities, is essential to ensure these efforts yield long-lasting benefits,” she said.
