By P. Chandra Sagaran
Realising the importance of limestone hills conservation and community development here, the Ipoh City Council and Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) at the Institute for Tropical Biology and Conservation (IBTP) at the university recently.
Ipoh is famous for its striking limestone hills which are also tourist attractions.
The signatories were Ipoh City Mayor Zamakhshari Hanipah who represented Ipoh City Council while IBTP director Professor Madya Dr Fiffy Hanisdah Saikim signed on behalf of USM.
The event was witnessed by Ipoh City Council Secretary Ahmad Munir Ishak, Council’s Councillors Whip Datuk Mazlan Abd. Rahman and representatives from IBTP USM, Professor Madya Dr.Jaya Seelan and Dr Marcela Pimid.
The LOI comprises three main cores including implementation of research on involvement of community and conservation of limestone hills.
It also encompasses the assessment of sustainable development status of local communities where limestone hills are located.
The third core is exchange of knowledge and implementation of capacity buildings programmes guided by the outcome of the joint research findings.
Zamakhshari said “The LOI reflects the commitment of the two entities to promote conservation of the limestone hills. “It is also to ensure the development of the local community is done in a sustainable, inclusive and knowledge based method.
“It is an initial beginning to enhance strategic cooperation between local authority and institute of higher learning in the field of environmental conservation and development of the local community .
“It is hoped that the LOI will be a catalyst for a long term cooperation towards MoU in the future to widen the scope and strengthen the strategic cooperation between the two entities. The cooperation is expected to bring benefits to Ipoh City and Perak State but also contribute to the development of Sabah and the country as a whole,”he added.
The council also appreciated the efforts by USM to be the host and the success of such cooperation including a related research conducted by the university in 2025.