Sabah Prioritises Environment As Strategic Pillar Of Sustainable Development - Liew

TUARAN, June 26 (Bernama) -- Sabah has always prioritised the environment, recognising it as both an integral part and a strategic pillar of sustainable development, said State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew.

In her speech, Liew emphasised the need for policies that incorporate environmental considerations and standards into all development activities to ensure both social and ecological sustainability.

She said the ongoing implementation of the Action Plans under the Sabah State Policy on the Environment 2019, carried out by various government agencies, reflects the state’s continued commitment to environmental stewardship.

“In 2017, the Sabah State Policy on the Environment was launched, serving as our guiding framework alongside the Environment Protection Enactment 2002,” she said at the World Environment Day 2025 celebration here today.

The text of her speech was delivered by the ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary, Mary Isidore Malangking.

Liew said environmental education is a dynamic process that builds awareness, knowledge and skills on environmental issues, ultimately driving behavioural and attitudinal changes that support conservation and sustainable management.

To address the complex challenges of environmental education in the state, Liew said the Sabah Environmental Education Policy was developed and officially launched in November 2009, as a vital platform to align stakeholder efforts in implementing comprehensive and effective environmental education initiatives. 

“I am proud to say that Sabah is the first state in Malaysia to have an environmental education policy,” she said.

Liew also highlighted several key milestones that have advanced environmental education in Sabah, including the launch of Sekolah Rakan Alam Sekitar (SERASI) in 2003 and the establishment of the Sabah Environmental Education Network in 2005.

In a related development, she said the Environment Protection Department of Sabah recently conducted a study titled “Development of Educational Materials and Best Practices Report on the Implementation of the Sabah Environmental Education Policy”, which, among other outcomes, produced educational resources aimed at strengthening environmental education delivery. 

These resources include videos, learning modules, board games and a compilation of best practices tools designed to make environmental education more engaging, impactful and accessible to a wide range of target groups.

-- BERNAMA