National Environment Day to Spotlight Conservation, Climate and Community Action

30 September 2025

KOTA KINABALU: A three-member delegation from the Federal Department of Environment (DOE) Sabah paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Christina Liew, on Monday to discuss preparations for the forthcoming State-level National Environment Day (HASN) celebration.

Deputy Director of the Sabah Environment Protection Department (EPD), Daisy Aloysius, introduced the new Director of DOE Sabah, Nor Rashidah Mohd Ghazali, to the Minister. Accompanying them were Senior Principal Assistant Director Amir Hamzah Musa and Senior Assistant Director Chai Hsieh Nee.

The celebration is jointly organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment (KePKAS), Sabah EPD and DOE Sabah, in collaboration with the Sabah Wetland Conservation Society.

“We at KePKAS are pleased to support the State-level National Environment Day. It is encouraging to see the organisers engaging schoolchildren, university students, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and the wider community to participate actively in the programme,” said Liew, who has been invited to officiate at the event on 8 November at the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Centre Ramsar.

The celebration will feature a mangrove walk and replanting, an upcycling E-Waste exhibition, and a household E-Waste collection drive, among other activities.

Liew will also present prizes to winners of the Primary School Drawing Competition, Secondary School Infographic Competition, Public Photography Competition, and the Upcycling E-Waste Competition for institutions of higher learning (IPT).

In addition, she will take the opportunity to present eco-bags to representatives of local authorities (PBT) across Sabah.

During the meeting, Nor Rashidah explained that HASN is a rebranding and enhancement of the Malaysia Environment Week (MASM), which has been celebrated nationwide from 21 to 27 October each year since 1991, in conjunction with Malaysia Environment Day.

She highlighted that the objectives of HASN are to raise awareness of critical environmental issues such as pollution, climate change and biodiversity loss; to educate the community about their responsibility towards the environment; and to encourage wider community involvement in conservation efforts, including students, NGOs, and both the public and private sectors.

Photo captions: Datuk Seri Christina Liew (left) being introduced to DOE Sabah Director Nor Rashidah Mohd Ghazali by Daisy Aloysius (right), as Amir Hamzah Musa and Chai Hsieh Nee look on.