Kundasang: Sabah Parks marked the 25th Silver Jubilee Celebration of Kinabalu Park as a World Heritage Site on Saturday.
Themed “Celebrating Treasures, Empowering its Protectors”, it was officiated by Sabah Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Jafry Bin Ariffin.
He described the celebration as 25 years of continuous success in maintaining its status as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
“Although the official date of recognition of Kinabalu Park as a World Heritage Site was Dec 2, 2000, today’s celebration goes beyond just an anniversary.
“It is a manifestation of collective gratitude, a symbol of continued commitment, and recognition of the concerted efforts of all parties in preserving a site that has Outstanding Universal Value – not only to Sabah and Malaysia, but also to the international community.
“Kinabalu Park is not just a geographical landmark. It is a natural treasure, an archive of world biodiversity, and a symbol of the harmonious relationship between humans, nature, and spiritual values inherited from generation to generation,” he said.
Jafry said the theme reflects the government’s balanced and forward-looking approach – between recognising past achievements and emphasising the need to strengthen protection systems to face future challenges.
It carries a clear message: that conservation is not a static or symbolic effort, but a dynamic, adaptive and continuous process, guided by clear policies, sound science, and governance with integrity.
“Treasure” refers to the extraordinary universal value of Kinabalu Park, while “protectors” include all parties – from policymakers, enforcement officers, local communities, to the younger generation who will inherit this trust,” he said.
At the global level, he said, the management of Kinabalu Park remains in compliance with the principles and guidelines under the Unesco World Heritage Convention, ensuring that the protection of Outstanding Universal Value is implemented in accordance with international standards.
At the regional level, Jafry said, the recognition as an Asean Heritage Park recognises Sabah’s leadership role in the conservation of Southeast Asian biodiversity.
“At the national level, the management of this site is aligned with key national policies such as the National Biodiversity Policy and the National Climate Change Policy, ensuring conservation is in line with the sustainable development agenda.
“Meanwhile, at the state level, the Sabah State Government through Sabah Parks implements the protection mandate strategically based on the 1984 Parks Enactment and the Sabah Parks Strategic Plan.
“This entire framework ensures that the protection of Kinabalu Park is implemented consistently, with integrity, transparency and auditability – an important prerequisite in maintaining the trust of the international community,” he said.
According to Jafry, this success was also strengthened through the integrated involvement of strategic stakeholders – particularly the Royal Malaysian Police, the Malaysian Fire and Rescue Department, the Ministry of Health Malaysia, District Offices, and other enforcement and security agencies.
“However, policies and legislation alone are not enough without the involvement of the local community. The community is a key strategic partner in the preservation of Kinabalu Park – whether as Malim Gunung, Porter, Honorary Ranger, or through the role of the Mount Kinabalu Customary Holders Council.
Jafry added that Kinabalu Park has become a Tropical Mountain Ecosystem Research Hub where international collaborations produce high-impact publications such as digital monitoring systems that aid risk and safety management.
“In the tourism sector, Kinabalu Park practices the principle of quality over quantity. The Malaysia Tourism Quality Assurance (MyTQA) Platinum Grade recognition as well as recognition at the ASEAN level prove commitment to international-class service standards.
Jafry also announced the official launch of the new Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site Management Plan.
“This plan emphasizes four main pillars, namely; Climate Change Adaptation; Visitor Capacity Control; Disaster Risk Management; and Wellbeing and institutionalisation of community roles,” he said.
