Unleashing Potential Of Heart Of Borneo's Natural Capital Important For Sustainable Growth

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), Nov 12 (Bernama) -- Finding the best possible way to unleash the richness of the natural capital within the Heart of Borneo (HoB) has become imperative to ensure sustainable growth for future generations. Natural Resources and Environment Minister G. Palanivel said natural capital was the foundation of all economic activities and was of utmost importance that economic development was in harmony with the sustainable use of the natural capital. "While we strive to become a developed country by 2020, with higher income and better quality of life, conservation of biodiversity will be a top priority for Malaysia as we take a balanced approach towards development. "With actions taken by the first National Council on Biodiversity, chaired by Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on October 22, to fast track the establishment of Malaysia's National Biodiversity Centre, we forsee through this centre we can enhance and support programmes related to biodiversity and forestry, including the HoB initiative," he said. He said this during the closing ceremony of the International Conference on HoB's Natural Capital: Unleashing Their Potential for Sustainable Growth in Sabah (East Malaysia state) here Tuesday. His speech was delivered by the ministry's deputy secretary-general Dr Che Abdul Rahim Nik. Palanivel said the government was looking forward to continue its struggle to address extreme poverty in the country together with ensuring more equitable economic growth and environmental sustainability through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in 2015. He said the effort was a follow-up to the Millenium Development Goals, adopted in 2000 and which will conclude in 2015. "Continuous implementation of the HoB initiative is certainly in line with the spirit of sustainability that forms the core element in formulating the SDG," he said. Palanivel assured the government was committed to continue supporting Sabah and Sarawak (the two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo) in the implementation of various projects and activities under the HoB initiative. According to him, since 2009, the government has allocated about US$7.37 million (RM23.68 million) for the purpose under the five-year Malaysian Development Programme. "I must also thank the state governments of Sabah and Sarawak, for their strong support and commitment to contribute a substantial amount of the states' budget towards this noble cause," he said. -- BERNAMA