Sabah is resisting a 'directive' from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak that orang utan from Sabah be sent to Kuala Lumpur for eco-tourism purposes.

Apparently Najib has in mind to recreate in KL the famous Sepilok Sanctuary in Sandakan or the Semenggoh Wildlife Sanctuary near Kuching.

orang utan in sabah 250906 Najib's idea was disclosed to the media in Kuching last Sunday by newly-appointed Federal Deputy Tourism Minister James Dawos Mamit.

"After my swearing in ceremony on Jan 13 in KL, the prime minister asked me, 'Could we fly one or two orang utan to KL?'" said Mamit.

"I said yes, we could. But we would need a suitable location, preferably a mature  tropical jungle or forest."

Mamit said Najib's idea needed to be carried out as "it was a directive to him from the prime minister".

An environmental expert and scientist by training, Mamit has already held talks with the director-general of the forestry department Razani Ujang to find a suitable forest near KL for the primates.  

Next, he plans to meet the directors of both Sarawak and Sabah Forest Departments.

"Input from experts is needed so that the orang utan sanctuary in KL will be a big success," he said, adding that the sanctuary was in line with the government's intention to make eco-tourism a more prominent sector.

However, Mamit did not know when the sanctuary would be a reality.

Can't tell difference between orang utan and cat

State Minister for Tourism, Culture and Environment Masidi Manjun is strongly opposed to the idea.

"The reason why God has given the orang utan to Sabah is probably because he knew that they would survive better here," he said.

"Those who want the orang utan in KL don't know the difference between it and a cat."

He added that those who wanted to see them could come to the state.

"How can we just simply allow our iconic primates to be bundled off to KL in this manner?"

Manjun pointed out that moving an orang utan out from its natural habitat involved many technical difficulties, especially from  the virgin jungles of Borneo to an urban jungle like KL.

"It's not as easy as moving a cat from one house to another," he quipped.

The fact that Sabah had not been consulted on the idea is also a sore point with him.

Mamit has come under fire in Facebook following Masidi's comments which he also posted on the social networking site.

Nevertheless, time is running out for the orang utan, even in their traditional habitats in Borneo and Sumatra.

Conservationists estimate that the world has less than 20 years to save the charismatic red apes by protecting its jungle habitat in Malaysia and Indonesia.