THE strategic alliance between the Sabah Government and the Federal Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) is the critical “bridge” required to protect the state’s interests.
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun said the connection is essential for safeguarding Sabah’s unique environmental and geographical assets.
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Mandela emphasised that the federal-state synergy is essential for synchronizing Sabah’s “specific variables” — including its rare status as a carbon-negative net sink — with national climate policies.
“The appointment of Sook Assemblyman Datuk Seri Arthur J. Kurup as the Federal NRES Minister provides Sabah with a direct and unprecedented line to Putrajaya,” he added.
According to him, the connection is seen as a game-changer for ensuring that federal frameworks do not overlook Sabah’s distinct geographical and economic realities.
“This bridge between Kota Kinabalu and Putrajaya is critical…It ensures that as we move toward fulfilling Malaysia’s international climate commitments, Sabah’s role as a vital carbon sink is not only recognised but utilised as a primary asset in the national agenda.”
He said the collaboration is already yielding results, with the Sabah Climate Change Action Council (SCAC) working alongside NRES to refine adaptation and mitigation plans.
“A key focus is the development of Sabah-specific variables for greenhouse gas inventories.”
By tailoring these metrics, Mandela said the state aims to move away from generic national estimates and toward a high-precision model that reflects the actual carbon absorption of Sabah’s vast forest reserves.
The synchronisation is expected to:
• Align federal funding with Sabah’s specific vulnerability assessments.
• Ensure the Sabah Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 operates in harmony with national laws.
• Position Sabah to lead in the global carbon credit market through independently verified environmental assets.
To cement this progress, Mandela announced the upcoming establishment of the Sabah Climate Registration and Inventory Centre (Sacric).
Working within this federal-state bridge, Sacric will serve as the state’s “climate watchdog,” overseeing the enforcement of carbon laws and ensuring that data collection meets the rigorous standards of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Mandela said that this unified front between the State and Federal governments is the only way to ensure Sabah remains Malaysia’s “green powerhouse” while securing the economic benefits of its climate leadership.
