Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, who also oversees Kota Kinabalu City Hall (5th left), posed for the camera with Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society president Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa (6th left) and others after an engagement session at his office in Kota Kinabalu.
KOTA KINABALU : – Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Joniston Bangkuai has proposed the formation of a multi-agency steering committee to drive coordinated action on the proposed Likas Green Belt and address environmental concerns affecting the Kota Kinabalu Wetland Ramsar Site.
The proposal follows an engagement session with Sabah Wetlands Conservation Society led by its president Datuk Zainie Abdul Aucasa, which presented its vision for the Likas Green Belt — an integrated initiative aimed at enhancing the Likas Bay area through sustainable development, environment conservation, and tourism potential.
Joniston, who is entrusted to oversee Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK), described the concept as a strong opportunity to reposition the state capital into a well-managed and vibrant coastal zone that balances ecological preservation with urban development.
However, concerns were raised about current water quality, with the Sabah Wetlands Society pointing to drainage and runoff believed to be from surrounding developments flowing into the wetlands and coastal waters.
Officers from DBKK and Sabah Tourism Board (STB) also attended the engagement, where it was highlighted that certain areas fall beyond the city hall’s jurisdiction and involved under agencies such as the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID), particularly in addressing drainage-related issues.
Joniston, who is also chairman of STB, stressed that such issues require urgent and coordinated attention, noting that the ecological health of the wetlands must be safeguarded as development progresses.
“This is not something that can be addressed by one agency alone. It involves multiple jurisdictions, including drainage systems, land use, and development planning, which require coordination among relevant authorities.
“Without proper coordination, it becomes difficult to implement effective and lasting solutions,” he said.
“We have seen how cross-ministerial collaboration works in rural tourism development. For example, through STB, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment works closely with other ministries such as rural development and agriculture to address overlapping issues,” he said, stressing a similar approach is needed here.
Joniston added that the steering committee would serve as a platform to bring together all stakeholders, including government agencies, local authorities, developers, and non-governmental organisations, to align their roles, minimise overlaps, and take timely action on issues affecting both development and conservation.
He also stressed the importance of safeguarding the Kota Kinabalu Wetlands Ramsar Site, noting its international significance as one of only two Ramsar-listed wetlands located within a city in the world, with the other in Tokyo, Japan.
He said further discussions will be carried out to formalise the proposed committee and chart a practical way forward for both the Likas Green Belt initiative and the long-term management of the wetlands.
