Sabah's visionary leadership and Blue Economy earns top honour at IBR ASEAN Awards 2025

Focus Malaysia

5 days ago

SABAH'S bold blueprint for sustainable development which is both anchored by its Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) plan and rapidly evolving Blue Economy has earned the state the top accolade at the recent International Business Review ASEAN Awards (IBRAA) 2025.
Sabah was officially named Malaysia's Most Outstanding State for 2024, surpassing strong contenders in a rigorous evaluation process led by a panel of regional experts.
The award recognised Sabah's remarkable transformation under the leadership of Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, particularly through the SMJ roadmap which has accelerated state-wide progress in infrastructure, industry, environment and inclusive governance.
The award was received by Sabah's Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun who represented Hajiji at the ceremony. In Hajiji's speech read out by Masidi, he outlined Sabah's unique trajectory, one that merges economic ambition with environmental responsibility.
'There is more to the Blue Economy than just deep-sea harvesting. Sabah is actively exploring renewable ocean energy, blue carbon, tourism and marine biotechnology as part of a comprehensive strategy to harness our natural resources sustainably.'
Sabah's Blue Economy strategy which includes the development of the Blue Economy Industrial Park in Kudat is projected to generate RM3.25 bil annually with an estimated marine harvest output of 491,000 tonnes of fish and prawns.
The state is also pioneering Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion – a renewable energy initiative with the potential to generate up to 20,000MW of clean electricity – along its 500km coastline.
These efforts reflect a state that is thinking long-term, balancing industrial growth, energy security and environmental stewardship.
Sabah delivers across the board
Under Hajiji's leadership, Sabah's transformation is driven by the SMJ vision which itself is a comprehensive strategy that has re-defined the state's development model since its launch in 2021.
Since then, Sabah has approved RM17.41 bil in manufacturing investments across 73 companies, creating over 3,600 jobs with an additional RM42.3 bil in proposals in the pipeline which is expected to add nearly 33,000 more jobs.
Sabah is also addressing critical infrastructure needs with the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 aiming to produce 700MW of power within two years while nearly RM680 mil has been allocated to resolve long-standing water supply issues.
At the same time, the state is committed to protecting its environment: With 62% of Sabah remains under forest cover, efforts to expand its Totally Protected Areas are bringing it close to the 30% global biodiversity conservation target.
'Sabah's ability to simultaneously attract investment, protect its environment and deliver on public needs demonstrates a level of governance that sets it apart,' remarked IBRAA Adjudication Panel chairman Datuk Seri Azman Ujang.
'This award affirms the strength of the state's vision and leadership.'
Honouring ASEAN's change-makers
Also honoured at the gala was Negeri Sembilan which is named Malaysia's Most Progressive State for its long-term planning and high-impact policies.
'This recognition is more than just an award. It's a testament to our clean, united and progressive approach to governance,' shared Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun whose administration scored high on 20 criteria including tourism, investment attractiveness, industrial development and environmental performance.
The award was received on behalf of the state by EXCO member Teo Kok Seong and State Economic Planning Unit director Dr Arwan Sabri.
The IBR ASEAN Awards 2025 also spotlighted excellence beyond state borders, celebrating trailblazing organisations and institutions from Malaysia, Singapore and beyond:
Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) was recognised for Corporate Excellence in Healthcare and Leadership in ESG innovation and becoming Malaysia's first hospital with a three-star EMGS rating.
Clean Kinetics Pte Ltd of Singapore won Corporate Excellence in Renewable Energy for its solar megaprojects in Qatar and Dubai.
of Singapore won Corporate Excellence in Renewable Energy for its solar megaprojects in Qatar and Dubai. Millenium Minerals Ltd received the Ethical Mining Award in recognition for its blockchain-enabled transparency in diamond extraction in West Africa.
received the Ethical Mining Award in recognition for its blockchain-enabled transparency in diamond extraction in West Africa. Sabah Ports Sdn Bhd was named winner in Logistics for for having collaborated with DP World to elevate the Sepanggar Bay Container Port as a regional trade hub.
was named winner in Logistics for for having collaborated with DP World to elevate the Sepanggar Bay Container Port as a regional trade hub. AiRTS Pte Ltd earned the AI Innovation Award for its GenAI Twin technology which creates digital 'clones' of workers to improve productivity in routine operations.
Alpine Integrated Solution Sdn Bhd (AIS) received Corporate Excellence in Event Management for its role in delivering major defence and cybersecurity expos, including LIMA 2023, CYDES series and AISSE 2025.
received Corporate Excellence in Event Management for its role in delivering major defence and cybersecurity expos, including LIMA 2023, CYDES series and AISSE 2025. Education Malaysia Global Services (EMGS) won the award for Corporate Excellence in Education for boosting Malaysia's global education profile by having processed almost 82,000 international student applications in 2024 alone.
IBRAA: A platform for ASEAN leadership
Held under the theme Re-imagining ASEAN in view of Malaysia's 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, this year's IBRAA underscored the role of leadership, innovation and sustainability in shaping the region's future.
'IBRAA is not just about celebrating success. It's about setting the benchmark for ASEAN excellence,' enthused The IBR Asia Group's group managing director Datuk Beatrice Nirmala.
'Sabah's win is proof that when vision meets execution, anything is possible. The calibre of the winners shows us that the future of ASEAN leadership is already here.'
With its integrated approach to development that connects ocean-based industries, industrial growth, renewable energy, conservation and community upliftment, Nirmala said Sabah now stood as a regional model of forward-thinking governance.
As ASEAN continues to evolve, the winners of IBRAA 2025 serve as reminders that leadership today must be bold, holistic and deeply aligned with people. – July 30, 2025