Kota Kinabalu: The government should implement large-scale composting facilities and promote community-based composting programmes in Sabah.
Kapayan Assemblywoman Jannie Lasimbang said such proposal would be apt in Sabah’s hot and wet environment as the one crucial area is on organic waste management that need to be addressed.
Advertisement“An estimated two tonnes of mixed organic and non- organic waste that are transported daily to the Kayu Madang Landfill from Pasar Pemborong Sayur in Penampang, will soon be processed by a composting machine.
“Incentives for households and businesses to reduce food waste and repurpose organic materials into fertiliser can significantly cut landfill waste and methane emissions. Policies that encourage segregation at source will also make recycling efforts more efficient,” she said.
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The group learned about initiatives aligned to the SDG that are implemented in that country.
AdvertisementShe said the seminar also shared on initiatives that participants have done to apply the SDGs in Sabah so that they can slowly but surely set a sustainable path forward.
The event gathered social democratic parliamentarians from the region to evaluate the progress of the SDG and discuss strategies to overcome their implementation, she added.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Jannie said the project started with a Conference by SocDem Asia Pacific in August 2022 in Sabah entitled “Advancing the SDGs in Asia”.
She said Sabah has immense potential to align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in urban sustainability, waste management, and green initiatives.
With rapid urbanisation and environmental challenges, Sabah must integrate sustainable practices to ensure long-term resilience and economic growth.
In urban planning, Jannie said Sabah must adopt smart growth strategies that emphasise mixed-use developments, public transport, and green spaces.
“Townships should be designed to reduce reliance on private vehicles, enhance walkability, and integrate sustainable drainage systems and reservoirs to mitigate flooding.
“Sustainable infrastructure, such as solar-powered streetlights and rainwater harvesting, should be the standard in new developments.
“It’s quite possible to do so - in the last two years. The Kapayan elected people representative office has installed 270 solar streetlights costing about RM850,000 and installed rainwater harvesting in schools and community halls” she said.
Jannie said Sabah must also create liveable cities, and to do that it should prioritise affordable housing, green public spaces, and efficient public transport.
“I sincerely hope that in Sabah we can start planning our towns and cities to build more covered walkways to provide pedestrians cover from the hot sun and rain that is part of our daily lives. Also to respect pedestrians and to improve cycling infrastructure that encouraged sustainable mobility.
“Smart city technologies, such as waste-tracking systems and energy-efficient buildings, can improve urban sustainability and residents’ quality of life,” she said.
Jannie said promoting green initiatives among private sectors and communities is vital.
Therefore, she said the government should introduce tax incentives for businesses that adopt renewable energy, sustainable supply chains, and carbon offset programmes.
“Public-private partnerships can drive green projects, such as urban farming, eco-tourism, and community-led conservation efforts while education institutions play a key role in building a sustainable future.
“Schools and universities must incorporate sustainability principles into their curricula, ensuring that students understand the importance of SDGs. Specialised courses on environmental management, renewable energy, and waste reduction should be introduced at all levels.
“In our visit to a vocational training institution in Copenhagen, we found that the courses they offered revolved around the needs of the sustainable city,” she said.
Likewise, Jannie said it is essential for our vocational training like TVET to equip citizens with skills needed for green industries.
“Programmes should focus on sustainable construction, solar panel installation, organic farming, and eco-tourism. Strengthening technical education in these areas will create a workforce that supports Sabah’s sustainability goals while boosting employment opportunities.
“By integrating SDG principles into governance, education, and industry, Sabah can transition into a model of sustainability in Malaysia.
“With proactive policies and strong community engagement, Sabah can achieve long-term environmental, social, and economic resilience,” she said.
Jannie said that the Seminar ended on a good note with participants committing to level up the small initiatives that are aligned to the SDG, and that local government authorities, NGOs and the private sector will collaborate together to find solutions to every challenge that faced.
Present at the Seminar were Annette Larson, International Consultant of Social Democratic Party of Denmark; Joshua Woo, Pulau Tikus Assemblyman, Penang;
Anthony Tan from APPGM-SDG; representatives from Penampang Municipal Council, Kota Kinabalu City Hall, Putatan District Council, Sewerage department as well as NGOs and the private sector.
