By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has proposed the formation of a multi-agency steering committee to address environmental concerns affecting the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Ramsar Site.
The committee aims to drive coordinated action on the proposed Likas Green Belt—an integrated initiative to enhance the Likas Bay area through sustainable development, environmental conservation, and tourism potential.
The steering committee would serve as a platform to bring together all stakeholders, including government agencies, local authorities, developers, and non-governmental organisations, to align their roles, minimise overlaps, and take timely action on issues affecting both development and conservation.
Joniston said further discussions will be carried out to formalise the proposed committee and chart a practical way forward for both the Likas Green Belt initiative and the long-term management of the wetlands.
The proposal follows an engagement session with the Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society, led by its president Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa. Officers from Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) also attended.
Joniston said the concept has the potential to reposition the state capital into a well-managed and vibrant coastal zone that balances ecological preservation with urban development.
However, concerns were raised about current water quality, with the society pointing to drainage and runoff believed to be from surrounding developments flowing into the wetlands and coastal waters.
The drainage system is under the authority of the Department of Irrigation and Drainage.
Joniston, who is also chairman of STB, noted that the issues require coordinated attention to safeguard the ecological health of the wetlands amid development progress.
“This is not something that can be addressed by one agency alone. It involves multiple jurisdictions, including drainage systems, land use, and development planning, which require coordination among relevant authorities,” he said.
He cited how cross-ministerial collaboration works in rural tourism development, where the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment works closely with other ministries such as Rural Development and Agriculture to address overlapping issues.
He said it is important to safeguard the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands Ramsar Site, which is one of only two Ramsar-listed wetlands located within a city in the world, the other being Tokyo, Japan.
Joniston and Zainie (fourth and fifth from left), with DBKK, STB, and society members after the engagement session.
