KOTA KINABALU: Everything is alright about Sabah's Nature Conservation Agreement (NCA), said Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan.
"It is going good (well). Those who make noise, they do not understand or because they have some personal or private interests, that is why they said something.
"Actually nothing is not good, everything is good, the only thing is that we do not open about it (NCA) earlier," he told reporters after the launching of "We Be-Leaf" initiative programme at a preschool here.
Last year, the 100-year agreement was secretly signed between Sabah government and Singapore's private firm Hoch Standard that would look into carbon and nature trade deals involving up to 2 million hectares of state land.
Jeffrey, who is also state Agriculture and Fisheries Minister, had said that the Chief Minister had instructed him to realise the carbon trade deal.
Following the expose, conservationists and politicians have come forward to object to the deal due to lack of transparency.
Sabah Attorney-General Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof had also issued a statement that the deal is not enforceable as several criteria such as due diligence on Hoch Standard, the land identification and consents from affected natives among others.
The case is also brought to the court and some politicians have also lodged reports to authorities to investigate any corruption elements in that deal.
When asked about Sabah forests experts' views that the deal is unlikely certifiable, saleable or profitable, Jeffrey disagreed with the co-authors of report titled "Technical and financial impediments to the viability of the Nature Conservation Agreement"
"We won't do it if it is not bringing in revenue, right now we have zero revenue on carbon. Anything comes in from nothing, it is good, right?
"It (the deal) is viable but there is a court case, I cannot talk or it will be sub judice."