By Doreen Ling
KUCHING, Oct 18: The Sabal Forest Reserve could become part of a learning circuit for environmental education, says Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
He said this followed a discussion he had with Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong, where both agreed that primary and secondary school students from Singapore would come to Sarawak through a student exchange programme to learn about nature.
“Many Singaporean children have never even seen live chickens or wildlife up close. Even my grandchild in Kuala Lumpur, when following me to Gedong—the moment the helicopter landed and there were live chickens—was amazed, having never seen them before,” he said.
The Premier said this during the launch of the Sabal Forest Reserve as an Eco-Tourism Hub and Sabal Open Day 2025 in Simunjan today, which was live-streamed by the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (UKAS).
He added that such experiences would allow students to connect with nature as part of their education, with Sabal complementing other natural attractions like the Semenggoh Wildlife Centre and Bako National Park within the Sarawak Delta Geopark.
“This can be a circuit for them to understand what nature is, why the globe is facing carbon emissions, and how to solve these problems,” he said.
Deputy Minister for Natural Resources and Urban Development Sarawak, Datu Len Talif Salleh, and Forest Department Sarawak director, Datu Hamden Mohammad, were among those present. — DayakDaily
