Federal-Sabah Cooperation Key To Environmental Sustainability, Says Arthur

KOTA KINABALU, March 9 (Bernama) -- Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup stressed that stable cooperation between the Federal Government and Sabah is the cornerstone to ensuring the preservation of natural heritage for the well-being of future generations.

Arthur said in a statement today that the commitment is reflected through continuous efforts to strengthen strategic synergy between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) and the Sabah state government in advancing the environmental sustainability agenda as well as the management of the nation’s natural resources.

He said the matter was among those discussed during his courtesy call on Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at Menara Kinabalu here today.

During the meeting, the Federal Government also recognised Sabah’s efforts in maintaining protected areas through the disbursement of Ecological Fiscal Transfer (EFT) funds amounting to RM22.748 million for the first phase of 2026.

The disbursement follows the 2025 allocation of RM35.69 million, bringing the total received by Sabah since 2019 to RM126.357 million to support the implementation of biodiversity conservation projects in the state.

“This courtesy call also focused on matters under the framework of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including amendments to the Environmental Quality Act 1974 [Act 127] involving the granting of authority to control scheduled waste on land and in Sabah’s waters.

“In addition, the process of returning Federal land lots to the State Government is now in its final phase for Cabinet approval,” he said.

-- BERNAMA