Kota Kinabalu: Sabah-based, Indigenous-led social enterprise Tonibung has won the United Nations in Malaysia Awards 2026 in the Innovation category for its work in advancing community-led renewable energy.
The award was presented during the UN Day commemoration ceremony at Astana at Bamboo Hills in Kuala Lumpur, with Tonibung’s Adrian Lasimbang receiving the award from UN Resident Coordinator for Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam, Nikolas Myint.
In its notification letter, the UN Country Team in Malaysia recognised Tonibung’s locally driven solutions for bridging energy gaps, improving livelihoods and promoting inclusive, resilient and sustainable development through collaboration with communities, government agencies and development partners.
The award citation noted that Tonibung has supported more than 40 renewable energy installations across Malaysia, empowering local communities to plan, build and manage their own energy systems.
Its approach combines renewable energy technology with training and community organising, equipping residents with the technical and management skills needed to maintain their systems and sustain long-term access to electricity.
Among the projects highlighted was the Kobulu Micro Hydro Project in Penampang, where a community-led upgrade doubled the system’s generating capacity from 10 to 20 kilowatts.
Supported by Shell through its Access to Energy (A2E) programme, the project is managed by residents, who fund its upkeep through a community-agreed tariff. It also received recognition at the National Energy Awards 2023.
The UN recognition highlights the importance of Indigenous knowledge and community leadership in expanding energy access, while acknowledging the local operators, communities and partners who keep community-owned renewable energy systems running.
The UN in Malaysia Awards recognise individuals and organisations contributing to a more inclusive, sustainable and prosperous Malaysia. This year’s awards focus on inclusion, impact and innovation in advancing the Sustainable Development Goals.
