By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has launched its Environmental Indicator Report 2025 to provide an overview of the state’s environmental conditions and strengthen future planning and monitoring.
Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the report covered five key areas: land use, air, water quality, biodiversity and social dimensions.
He said it also highlighted environmental trends, challenges and remedial measures based on compliance with established standards.
The report would serve as a reference for environmental monitoring, planning and strategic decision-making, he said during the Sabah-level National Environment Day Celebration 2026 at a hotel here yesterday.
Jafry said the first Sabah Environmental Indicator Report was published in 2003.
The latest edition was produced under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), following a study based on the implementation of the Sabah Environmental Policy Action Plan and the Environmental Quality Monitoring Master Plan.
However, he said some constraints remained due to gaps or the unavailability of data.
He said this highlighted the need to develop environmental data systematically and strengthen coordination among agencies to support more comprehensive and effective environmental planning and monitoring.
Jafry said environmental protection remained a key commitment of the State Government to ensure a balance between environmental sustainability and social and economic development.
He said the Sabah Environmental Protection Department (EPD) and the Federal Department of Environment (DOE) played important roles in protecting the state’s environment.
The EPD, under his ministry, enforces the Environmental Protection Enactment 2002, while the DOE enforces the Environmental Quality Act 1974 and monitors air, river, marine and groundwater quality.
The EPD also serves as the secretariat of the Sabah Environmental Education Network (SEEN), established in 2005.
The network has 44 member organisations comprising government agencies, non-governmental organisations, higher learning institutions and the private sector.
Meanwhile, Jafry said SM Holy Trinity, Tawau, received the Sustainable School – Environmental Award (SLAAS) 2025/2026 at national level in the secondary school category in Melaka on Sept 21, 2026.
Other Sabah schools participating in the programme were also recognised at the state celebration.
He said the SLAAS programme, introduced in 2005, aimed to promote environmental preservation and conservation through five components: management, co-curriculum, greening, curriculum and special elements.
The ceremony also saw the presentation of a mock cheque by PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) for the School Environmental Friends Programme (SERASI) for the 2026/2027 session.
Jafry said SERASI, introduced in 2003, was Sabah’s flagship environmental education programme, jointly organised by the EPD and DOE.
He thanked PTTEP for supporting the programme since 2023 and expressed hope that the partnership would continue to help more schools implement environmental education activities.
Jafry launches the Sabah Environmental Indicator Report.
