Sabah Takes Another Step to Strengthen Environmental Management Autonomy

24 February 2026

KUALA LUMPUR: Sabah has taken a significant step towards enhancing its autonomy in environmental management through a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) in Kuala Lumpur.

Datuk Jafry Ariffin, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment for Sabah (KePKAS) , met with Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup, to discuss the realisation of Article 95C of the Federal Constitution concerning the management of scheduled wastes in Sabah.

The meeting highlighted the Sabah State Government’s commitment to securing full authority to enact and enforce environmental legislation tailored to local needs, in line with Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

Sabah is currently preparing to meet all nine readiness criteria, including legislation, technical infrastructure, online reporting systems, and human resource capacity, ahead of the full transfer of powers scheduled for November 2026.

This move is supported by strong collaboration between NRES, the Sabah State Government, and KePKAS through the Department of Environmental Protection. Such cooperation aims to bolster sustainable, efficient, and resilient environmental management in Sabah.

Jafry expressed his gratitude to all parties involved, particularly to Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup and NRES leadership, for their ongoing support. He highlighted that the initiative marks a strategic milestone for the welfare of Sabah’s residents and the protection of its environment.

The visit signifies Sabah’s growing efforts to reinforce local environmental governance and sustainable development, ensuring the state’s environmental policies are both effective and aligned with its constitutional rights.-Anna Vivienne