Chambers to discuss joint venture projects
TAWAU: The Tawau Chinese Chamber of Commerce is seeking to engage other Chinese chambers to hold an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) to discuss issues pertaining to the Sabah United Chinese Chambers of Commerce’s (SUCCC) shares, dividend and interests in the agriculture and reforestation joint venture projects with Veetar Kinabalu Plantations Sdn Bhd.
In the chamber’s executive committee meeting on Thursday, the exco members unanimously decided to appoint their former president Lo Su Fui as the chief delegate representing the Tawau Chinese Chamber of Commerce in SUCCC.
The committee also resolved to engage other Chinese chambers to hold an EGM to discuss SUCCC’s interests in the agriculture and reforestation joint venture projects.
Lo said he had proposed during the recent SUCCC meeting to hire a lawyer to carry out judicial review on the joint venture agreements, as well as auditors to undertake independent audit to ascertain SUCCC’s interests in both the agriculture and reforestation projects before the newly-formed delegation met with Veetar Kinabalu Plantations to negotiate better return.
SUCCC president Datuk Seri Panglima Gan Sau Wah recently said that the united association would arrange a meeting with Veetar Kinabalu Plantations in the next two weeks to discuss better interests for the association from the joint venture projects.
The delegation comprises Gan, Supervisory Committee chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Chong Nyuk Yong, deputy president Lo Su Fui, secretary general Datuk Ling Tiong Chai, treasurer general Pong Kim Wai, Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) president Datuk Michael Lui and Kudat Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Pak Chee Eng, while Tuaran Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Datuk Tan Kim Beng will serve as an advisor to the group.
Gan said the purpose of the meeting was to discuss better interests for the association, as the RM80,000 annual dividend SUCCC received from the agriculture JV with Veetar Kinabalu Plantations was too low.
On the other hand, Gan said the SUCCC had not seen any dividend from the reforestation JV as the project was not making a profit yet.
In 1997, SUCCC, Sabah Bumiputra Chamber of Commerce (SBCC) and Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) jointly formed a joint-venture company known as Corak Nakhoda Sdn Bhd with share equity of SUCCC (40%), SBCC (30%) and KCCI (30%).
This led to a JV agreement on a 20,000 acres of agriculture land at Ulu Tongod in Kinabatangan approved to Corak Nahkoda Sdn Bhd by the State Government of Sabah.
The second JV agreement on Sustainable Forest Management Licence was approved to Anika Desiran Sdn Bhd by the State Government, with share equity of SUCCC (40%), SBCC (30%) and KCCI (30%).
The state government approved 250,000 acres of land for this JV.
In both JVs, the three chambers were to provide the land, while Veetar Kinabalu Plantations Sdn Bhd would provide the finance and management.
According to its share, SUCCC has 8,000 acres of land for the agriculture project and 100,000 acres of land for reforestation.
760 Sandakan senior citizens registered at activity centre
SANDAKAN: The Senior Citizen Activity Centre (PAWE) is able to fulfil the social needs of senior citizens here with activities such as dancing, singing, cooking, exercising and visiting.
According to Community Development and Consumers Affair Minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid, a total of 760 senior citizens are registered in PAWE Sandakan and she is very happy that they are grabbing the opportunity to use the facilities available at the centre prepared by the government.
“PAWE is the right choice for senior citizens as the number of senior citizens is increasing. A lot of studies have shown senior citizens who are active in senior citizen organisations and volunteer bodies look younger and are more energetic,” she said after presenting appointment certificates to new PAWE Sandakan Board members.
She thanked the previous board members for their contribution to PAWE Sandakan and she hoped the newly appointed members would continue to be active and discuss about increasing programmes and quality activities for the elderly.
Jainab also said that although the activity centre is for senior citizens, the local community is also encouraged to get involved in volunteering and donating to the centre.
Also present was chairperson of PAWE Sandakan cum political secretary to the Chief Minister, Datuk Hajah Armani Mahiruddin.