MPASS Reminded of Key Advisory Role in Sabah's Environmental Management

29 May 2025

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Environment Protection Council (MPASS) was reminded of its critical role in advising the State Government of Sabah on the implementation of the Environment Protection Enactment 2002, as well as broader matters relating to environmental management within the state.

The reminder was issued by MPASS Chairperson, Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew, in her opening address at the Council’s first meeting of the year, held on Tuesday at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment.

Liew, who also serves as Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, presided over the meeting, which was attended by Council members comprising senior officers from both State and Federal Government agencies.

“The Council must adopt a serious stance on environmental issues in line with our commitment to sustainable environmental governance, as outlined in the Sabah State Environmental Policy 2017. This Policy encompasses 83 strategies across five key areas, namely land, air, water, biodiversity, and the social dimension,” she stated.

The Minister expressed appreciation for the perspectives and contributions of Council members, stressing the importance of ongoing collaboration to ensure that Sabah’s environment remains clean, healthy, and safe.

She raised concerns about environmental degradation caused by hillside clearing and the improper management of solid waste, among other pressing issues. “These matters require close coordination among regulatory agencies,” she asserted.

In response, the Council agreed that follow-up discussions should be convened among relevant technical departments and agencies to address these challenges in greater depth.

Two discussion papers were presented by the Environment Protection Department (EPD): a Study on Environmental Education Materials and Policy Implementation, and a Study on the Water Quality Management Plan for the Sungai Inanam Catchment, Kota Kinabalu.

The outputs of these studies—including environmental awareness modules, a best practices guide on environmental education, and educational board games—will be distributed by the EPD to stakeholders as reference materials and tools for guidance.

Furthermore, it was agreed that the recommendations from the water quality study in Sungai Inanam would be adopted by the relevant departments to curb pollution and enhance water quality management in the river.

Among those in attendance were the Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary I, Mary Malangking; Secretary of the Natural Resources Office, Sernam Singh; EPD Deputy Director, Daisy Aloysius; Deputy Director of the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Miklin Ationg; and Deputy Director of the Department of Environment (Sabah), Yaras Yurus.

Photo : Liew (centre) chairing the first meeting of the MPASS for the year 2025.