MPP Headquarters Becomes Sabah’s First Certified Green Government Building

20 June 2025

PENAMPANG: In a significant step towards promoting sustainability and innovation in public service, the Penampang Municipal Council (Majlis Perbandaran Penampang, MPP) has achieved a historic milestone, with its headquarters officially receiving the Green Building Certification—making it the first government building in Sabah to earn this recognition.

The certification was announced during an official ceremony officiated by Deputy Chief Minister II and Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam. The event also saw the launch of the MPP e-Adu mobile application and the MPP Command Centre in a combined ceremony held earlier today.

Dr Joachim described the achievement as a clear testament to MPP’s commitment to addressing global challenges related to climate change, energy management, and carbon emissions reduction.

“This is a proud accomplishment. The Green Building Certification reflects MPP’s sustainable approach to building management, which includes initiatives such as solar panel installation, the use of energy-efficient equipment, and LED lighting systems,” he said in his keynote address at the MPP headquarters concourse.

He added that this success aligns with the State Government’s vision of making Sabah a smart, sustainable, and environmentally responsive state, prioritising the wellbeing of its people.

The Green Building Certification is awarded to buildings that meet sustainability standards in areas such as energy efficiency, water management, use of eco-friendly construction materials, and designs that promote natural ventilation and recycling.

MPP’s achievement also aligns with the Third Core of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan, which focuses on People's Wellbeing and Environmental Sustainability, with sustainable development and green technology as key priorities.

Dr Joachim further commended MPP for its boldness in adopting new technologies, which not only help reduce long-term operational costs but also contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.

In addition to the Green Building recognition, the launch of the MPP e-Adu mobile application and its Command Centre marks the beginning of a new era in digital governance and data-driven administration at the local government level.

The Command Centre is equipped with a CCTV monitoring system used not only for public safety and traffic surveillance, but also for disaster management such as floods and emergency incidents.

The e-Adu application enables residents to submit complaints more easily, transparently, and efficiently—supporting the vision of building a responsive, people-centred town.

“This new approach reflects how MPP is transitioning into a smart city model—powered by technology and data to improve efficiency and enhance quality of life for its residents,” Dr Joachim explained.

He also expressed his appreciation to all those who contributed to the success of the project, particularly former MPP President Francis Chong, Benny Ng, and SHAREDA, who provided valuable technical and professional expertise.

Dr Joachim urged other local authorities (PBTs) across Sabah to view this success as a benchmark, and to continue prioritising sustainability and innovation in their planning and development initiatives.

Among those present at the ceremony were Kapayan State Assemblywoman and Chairperson of the Koperasi Pembangunan Desa (KPD), Jannie Lasimbang; Ministry Permanent Secretary, Datuk Dr Jamili; MPP Deputy President, Noemi Dyena Johntren; Chief Assistant Director of the Sabah Digital Government Division, Disney Lai; Political Secretary to the Member of Parliament for Penampang, Carl Masoom; SHAREDA President, Datuk Johnny Wong; Executive Director of GreenRE Sdn Bhd, Ir. Ashwin Thurairaja; and Head of Administration at Sabah Credit Corporation (SCC), Salina Salimi.