By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is using its natural resources to attract investment, win market access and create higher-value jobs, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said.
Sustainability now decides where money goes, he said.
“Sustainability is no longer just about environmental protection or compliance.
“It is influencing where investments go, which businesses can enter international markets, and how competitive our industries will be,” he said.
Hajiji was speaking at the opening of the Sustainable Action Conference 2026 – SAC 4.0 – held in Kota Kinabalu for the first time.
Control Union Malaysia organised the conference with support from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Malaysia.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun read his speech.
He said Sabah’s forests, biodiversity, rivers, coasts and seas underpin key industries and sustain livelihoods.
“Protecting our environment and pursuing economic development are not opposing objectives.
“We must develop resources responsibly so they continue to provide prosperity for future generations,” he said.
Agriculture, industry and tourism remain the pillars of the economy. Sustainability must enable their growth, he said.
He cited the Blue Economy as a growth area: sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, maritime activities and nature-based tourism.
“The long-term success of these industries depends on how well we manage the resources they rely on,” he said.
The same applies to forests and mangroves, which protect biodiversity, store carbon and buffer coastal communities.
“These are not merely environmental assets. They have real economic and social value.
“When a river is polluted or a marine ecosystem damaged, fishermen, farmers, tourism operators and communities pay the price.
“Responsible management is sound economic policy,” he said.
Energy is the other priority. Under the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040, the state is pursuing security of supply, reliability, renewable energy and new technologies.
“Sabah needs sufficient and affordable energy to support industrial growth.
“At the same time, we must progressively improve the sustainability and efficiency of our energy system,” he said.
He said international buyers now judge not just what Sabah produces, but how it produces it. Traceability, environmental standards and governance increasingly determine market access for agriculture, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture.
“We must help local industries, including smaller businesses, prepare.
“Adapting to higher standards requires investment, knowledge and time. Our approach must be practical – raising standards while ensuring local businesses are not left behind,” he said.
He welcomed the conference’s Zero Waste to Landfill initiative, which requires participating organisations to divert at least 75% of operational waste from landfill within 12 months.
He also welcomed the From Children to Children initiative, with its RM40,000 commitment this year to school-led sustainability projects in Sabah.
The state cannot manage the transition alone, he said.
“We need businesses, financial institutions, investors, researchers and communities to work together.
“Sabah welcomes partnerships that bring investment, technologies and expertise,” he said.
“At the same time, we want these opportunities to create meaningful employment, strengthen local capabilities and deliver tangible benefits.
“Our success must be measured not only by the investments we attract, but by the lasting value they create for Sabah and its people,” he said.
Ceasar presenting the winning prize for the From Children to Children (FCTC) competition to SJK (C) Chung Hwa Tamparuli.
