By Olivia Miwil
PENSIANGAN: The Integrated Khazanah Operation (OBK) has contributed to the protection of natural heritage, said Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup.
Since its implementation in 2019 until December last year, the initiative has recorded encouraging achievements, with the arrest of 904 locals and 294 foreigners.
In addition, seized items were valued at RM413.1 million, while 2,838 animal snares were destroyed to protect iconic species such as the orangutan, Bornean banteng and pygmy elephant.
"At the state level, 217 Sabah Community Rangers have so far been deployed across 18 patrol posts covering strategic areas including Keningau, Lahad Datu, Kinabatangan, Sandakan, Tawau, Tenom and Sipitang.
"One notable innovation is the establishment of a SMART Analyst team comprising female Community Rangers to comprehensively manage forest-crime hotspot data.
"The role of community rangers is critical, as their familiarity with forest terrain helps authorities combat encroachment, illegal logging and poaching," he said during the handover of appointment letters to community rangers and the flagging off of state-level OBK at Dewan Terbuka Nabawan near here.
He added that the federal government remains committed to strengthening protection of the nation's natural heritage through a special allocation of RM8.46 million for the appointment of 225 Community Rangers in Sabah for 2026.
The initiative forms part of the RM80 million allocation announced in Budget 2026 to appoint 2,500 Community Rangers nationwide under the Biodiversity Protection and Patrol Programme (BP3).
The Pensiangan Member of Parliament and Sook assemblyman, shared his hope that more Nabawan residents would get involved, as 70 per cent of the district is Permanent Forest Reserve.
He also announced an additional allocation to appoint 15 Community Rangers specifically for the Pagalungan and Pensiangan areas.
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