LAHAD DATU: POIC Sabah has reiterated its commitment to sustainable development and wildlife conservation as part of its long-term growth strategy for Sabah’s east coast.
A conservation awareness programme was held last Wednesday at the POIC container terminal here, jointly organised with the Lahad Datu Wildlife Department (JHL).
Group Senior Port Manager of POIC Sabah Logistics Sdn Bhd Clarence Miwil said the company’s development is guided by Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) principles introduced by the United Nations in 2004.
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');});“We have always upheld ESG values in our operations. This includes aligning our stakeholders and investors with our goals in conservation and sustainability,” he said.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to manage potential human-wildlife conflict across the 4,725-acre coastal land developed under the POIC Sabah umbrella.
Lahad Datu District Wildlife Officer Hairulnizam Hasnan said the programme aimed to raise awareness among local communities and industry players on the shared responsibility of wildlife protection.
Participants also heard from three invited speakers, featuring Victor Joseph from Orangutan Appeal UK, Esther Lonnie from WWF Malaysia and Silvester Wong from
the Wildlife Department, who shared insights into conservation challenges and practices in the region.
The POIC Lahad Datu Industrial Park, launched in 2005 as a State Government initiative to promote downstream palm oil activities, has so far attracted RM13.6 billion in investments.
Future plans to strengthen POIC’s role within the Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) include the development of a Maritime Academy, a Free Zone to boost regional trade and a Halal Hub to tap into the region’s natural resources and serve the Muslim market.
