Commitment to Forest Protection reaffirmed at Sabah Community Rangers Ceremony

7 February 2026

NABAWAN: Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability and Pensiangan Member of Parliament Datuk Arthur Joseph Kurup today reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting Sabah’s rich biodiversity at the Presentation of Appointment Letters to Community Rangers and the flag-off of the Sabah State–Level Integrated Heritage Operation (OBK) 2026.

Speaking at the event, Arthur expressed pride at the strong turnout, describing it as a clear show of public support for conservation and enforcement efforts. He commended the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Nabawan District Office for their close cooperation with his ministry and the Department of Wildlife and National Parks of Peninsular Malaysia (PERHILITAN) in organising the programme.

He highlighted Sabah’s global importance as part of Malaysia’s status as one of the world’s 17 megadiverse countries, noting that more than 80 per cent of Malaysia’s plant species are found in Sabah and Sarawak. He also cited Sabah’s internationally recognised ecosystems, including extensive mangrove forests, Ramsar wetland sites, and biosphere reserves such as Crocker Range and the recently recognised Kinabatangan Biosphere Reserve.

He stressed that protecting natural heritage was a shared responsibility and called on the public to help combat illegal logging, forest encroachment and wildlife poaching, warning that failure to act would result in irreversible ecological damage.

On enforcement, Arthur said the Biodiversity Protection and Patrol Programme (BP3), which includes the Integrated Heritage Operation and the Community Ranger initiative launched in 2019, had recorded significant success. Between 2019 and the end of 2025, 84 operations were conducted nationwide, leading to the arrest of more than 1,100 individuals, the destruction of nearly 3,000 animal snares, and seizures valued at RM413.1 million.

He noted that the programme had also created employment opportunities, with 2,500 Community Rangers appointed nationwide last year alone. In Sabah, 243 rangers comprising former military personnel, retired police officers and local community members have been deployed across 18 patrol posts. He also highlighted the contribution of female Community Rangers under the SMART Analyst team, who support enforcement through data collection and intelligence analysis.

Arthur welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement of an RM80 million allocation under Budget 2026 for the appointment of 2,500 Community Rangers nationwide, with RM8.46 million earmarked for Sabah to appoint 250 rangers. He added that Sabah would also benefit from ecological fiscal transfers and international collaborations aimed at reducing wildlife crime, including conservation efforts to protect the endangered Bornean banteng in the Maliau Basin area.

Focusing on Nabawan, Arthur said about 70 per cent of the district consists of Permanent Forest Reserves, making local involvement crucial. He pledged to push for improved security infrastructure, including permanent control posts, to address operational challenges faced by enforcement teams in the vast and remote district.

He also noted that Malaysia had gained 780 hectares of forest reserve land in Nabawan following a bilateral agreement on the Malaysia–Indonesia border alignment. In response, the Federal Government has approved the appointment of an additional 15 Community Rangers for the Pagalungan and Pensiangan areas.

Arthur said forest protection had been set as one of his key priorities, including as part of his 100-day key performance indicators as minister, and urged newly appointed Community Rangers to carry out their duties with the highest level of commitment.

The ceremony concluded with the official flag-off of the Integrated Heritage Operation for Sabah in 2026.