KENINGAU: Former senator Adrian Lasimbang is now leading Pertubuhan Suara Anak Sabah as president, following the association's supreme council meeting held yesterday.
Pertubuhan Suara Anak Sabah is a non-governmental organisation (NGO) established as a platform to voice the issues of the people, especially in the rural areas of Sabah.
It also runs programmes to defend the rights of the people of Sabah as stipulated in the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Among the activities carried out by the organisation are briefings and disclosures related to the human rights of Sabahans and current issues that are important for the people of Sabah.
Apart from that, it also focuses on helping farmers, women and youths by organising courses related to economic improvement to help them get out of poverty.
Adrian, who left Sabah DAP last week with two state assemblymen from the party, said the organisation should raise several important issues including the indigenous customary lands, the economy of farmers and the controversial carbon trade deal.
He also proposed the organisation conduct statewide roadshows particularly on the carbon trade deal to explain the agreement, how it can have a good and bad impact on the community, especially for the community that still depends on non -timber forest products.
The 100-year Carbon Trade Deal, which is also known as Nature Conservation Agreement, was signed between Sabah government and Singapore's Private firm Hoch Standard to manage up to two million hectares of existing forests in the state.
Last week, Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan had said the state is expected to earn RM2.2 billion to RM5.6 billion annually from the carbon and other natural asset monetising deals.