KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Environment Protection Council (MPASS) was reminded about its important role in advising the Sabah State Government on matters pertaining to the implementation of the Environment Protection Enactment 2002 as well as on matters related to environmental management in the state.
Chairman of MPASS Datuk Seri Christina Liew gave the reminder in her opening speech when the Council convened its first meeting for the current year on Tuesday at the Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry’s Conference Room.
Liew, who is also Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, presided at the meeting, attended by members of the Council, comprising senior officers from both State and Federal Government agencies.
“The Council must take a serious view of environmental issues in line with our commitment to ensuring sustainable environmental governance in line with the Sabah State Environmental Policy 2017. This Policy outlines 83 strategies based on five key areas, namely land, air, water, biodiversity, and social dimension,” she said.
The Minister expressed appreciation for the views and inputs contributed by the Council members, emphasising the importance of continuous cooperation in ensuring Sabah’s environment remains clean, healthy, and safe.
Liew raised concerns over environmental impacts from hillside clearing activities and the improper management of solid waste, among other relevant issues.
“These issues require close collaboration among regulatory agencies,” she asserted.
In this respect, the Council meeting agreed that follow-up discussions between technical departments/agencies should be held to discuss this matter further.
Two discussion papers were presented by the Environment Protection Department (EPD) – the Study on Environmental Education Materials and Policy Implementation, and the Study on Water Quality Management Plan for the Sungai Inanam Catchment, Kota Kinabalu.
Outputs of the studies, namely the environmental awareness modules, best practices of environmental education document, and board games, will be distributed by EPD to stakeholders as reference and guidance.
Additionally, it was decided that the recommendations from the water quality studies in Sungai Inanam will be adopted by relevant departments to prevent pollution and manage the water quality in that particular river.
Among those present were the Ministry’s Deputy Permanent Secretary I Mary Malangking, Secretary of Natural Resources Office Sernam Singh, Deputy Director of EPD Daisy Aloysius, Deputy Director of Drainage and Irrigation Department Miklin Ationg, and Deputy Director of Department of Environment (Sabah), Yaras Yurus.
