Sabah eyes green investments to power next growth phase

 By Olivia Miwil

May 25, 2026 @ 2:26pm

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor flanked by Senior Minister of the Royal Government of Cambodia Dr Chhem Kieth Rethy (left) and Chairman of KSI Strategic Institute for Asia Pacific Tan Sri Majid Khan (right) upon arrival at the World Green and Sustainability Summit at a hotel here yesterday. - Pic courtesy of Sabah Chief Minister's office

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is moving towards its next growth phase through "conservation with value", said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

He said this means attracting quality green investments that create real economic value, and growing industries around renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, the blue economy, eco-tourism and biodiversity-based innovation, among others.

"We are moving from protecting resources to building responsible industries around those resources.

"We are moving from being only a green contributor to becoming a green economy leader.

"That means developing credible carbon markets that benefit Sabah," he said, adding that this would ensure local companies, workers and communities are part of the value chain.

Hajiji was speaking at the "Powering Green Growth: Sabah and Malaysia in the Age of Sustainability" session at the World Green and Sustainability Summit (WGSS) here.

He said that even before sustainability became an international agenda, Sabah had already been protecting its forests, oceans, wildlife and some of the richest ecosystems in the region.

Today, almost 30 per cent of Sabah's landmass is under Totally Protected Areas (TPA).

Hajiji assured that the Sabah government would continue to be a responsible custodian of the state's environment, while remaining firm in defending the economic future of its people.