Kota Kinabalu: The Assembly passed the Forest Enactment (Amendment) 2025 Bill to strengthen Sabah’s forest protection while addressing global environment challenges.
Deputy Speaker Datuk Al Hambra Juhar announced the passing of the Bill tabled by Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Abidin Madingkir.
“Sabah still maintains 63 per cent of its land area under forest cover, in line with the nation’s commitment to preserve at least 50 per cent of the country’s land area under forest cover,” Abidin said when tabling the Bill.
He said the State Government is committed to continuing the policy of gazetting no less than 30 per cent of Totally Protected Areas (TPA) from Sabah’s total land area.
“This is to make sure TPAs are sufficient for environmental protection and enhancement purposes under the Sabah Forestry Policy 2018,” he said.
He said this aligns with Sabah’s initiatives in addressing climate change issues, realising the Sustainable Development Goals agenda and contributing to the nation’s commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Global Biodiversity Framework.
“Sabah is not exempt from facing international issues related to climate change and forest degradation, as raised in various international conferences such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Convention on Biological Diversity,” he said.
A key focus of the amendment is establishing Sabah’s control over forest carbon activities.
He said carbon stored in trees was legally defined as forest produce through a 2013 amendment to the Forest Enactment 1968, but the new Bill goes further by creating comprehensive mechanisms to regulate carbon credit trading.
“Hence, to ensure that forest carbon credit trading activities fall under the jurisdiction of the State Government, this Bill must be passed promptly,” Abidin said, noting that the Federal Government is expected to enact a Climate Change Act this year.
“Now is the most appropriate time for Sabah to enact specific laws to regulate forest carbon credit trading and related activities to safeguard the State’s interests and the sustainability of forest resources,” he added.
Under the new provisions, Forest Carbon Activities within Forest Reserves, State land and alienated land will require licences under agreed terms and conditions, protecting Sabah’s interests. Any revenue generated will flow directly to the State.
“This is important to support the Sabah Government’s efforts in achieving a balance between conservation, revenue generation and ensuring sustainable state development in the future,” he said.
The amendment substantially increases penalties for forest offences. Those causing forest fires could face imprisonment of up to 10 years or fines up to RM500,000.
More severe consequences await illegal loggers in Forest Reserves and State land, who could be fined up to RM5 million and face mandatory imprisonment of at least two years, extendable to 20 years.
Abidin said these stronger penalties align with the National Forestry (Amendment) Act 2022, designed to strengthen enforcement against illegal logging nationwide.
The Bill also introduces new Sections 12A to 12E, empowering the Chief Forest Conservator to declare the closure of Forest Reserves when necessary.
Additionally, Section 24E will allow the Chief Forest Conservator or authorised personnel to issue permits for certain activities that would otherwise be prohibited under subsection 20(1) of the Enactment.
“This proposed amendment facilitates permit issuance for necessary activities aimed at better forest management, such as permits for constructing basic facilities under the Forest Enactment 1968,” Abidin said.
An amendment to Section 24C will require holders of licences or Forest Reserve management agreements to pay annual forest rent to the Sabah Government.
This measure aims to enhance licensees’ commitment to sustainable forest management while contributing to State revenue.