Bernama 3 Jun 15;
KOTA KINABALU, June 3 (Bernama) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) Malaysia today marked a solid partnership with the Sabah Town and Regional Planning Department, an agency in the state's Local Government and Housing Ministry, to implement Malaysia's first marine spatial planning in Semporna.
The effort under the Semporna Marine Spatial Planning (SMSP) was underscored through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the two organisations here today.
WWF Malaysia was represented by its Conservation director Dr Sundari Ramakrishna while Sabah Town and Regional Planning Department by its director, Murshidi Sapie.
It was witnessed by the state Local Government and Housing Ministry permanent secretary Datuk Matius Sator and Sulabayan assemblyman Datuk Dr Jaujan Sambakong.
With the MoU agreement together with the launching of the SMSP, it is a recognition of the SMSP approach and final planning document that would be adopted and incorporated into the state government's regulatory framework.
Sundari said it was envisioned to pull all stakeholders to work together and ensure implementation, enforcement and monitoring activities will begin towards environmental sustainability in the Semporna Priority Conservation Area (PCA).
Meanwhile, Jaujan said he hoped both organisations would design a plan that could be acceptable to everyone, bring prosperity to the area, looks after the marine environment and restore the rich biodiversity.
He also suggested to the WWF Malaysia to set up a marine research centre in Semporna to allow international and local marine researchers to come and share data related to the field, as well as educate people in that area about conservation activities.
-- BERNAMA
