Sabah establishes Blue Economy Council to drive sustainable marine growth
KOTA KINABALU (June 16): Sabah has marked a major milestone in its sustainable development journey with the official formation of the Sabah Blue Economy Council (MEBS) — a dedicated platform to coordinate and implement the state's strategic blue economy policies.
The establishment of MEBS was approved during the 10th 2025 Sabah Cabinet meeting and its inaugural session, chaired by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, today at Menara Kinabalu.
In his address, Hajiji emphasised that MEBS was created as a strategic initiative to ensure Sabah's blue economy sector is developed in a systematic, integrated and high-impact manner, aligned with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan.
'Through MEBS, we will coordinate key policies, approve high-impact programmes and monitor the implementation of the Blue Economy Policy and Strategy Framework. This integrated approach aims to promote sustainable, inclusive and competitive economic growth,' he said.
He further noted that MEBS would catalyse technology transfer and innovation within the maritime sector, advancing Sabah's ambition to become a modern, sustainability-driven economy.
Highlighting the broader significance of MEBS, Hajiji said it would strengthen collaboration between government agencies, academia, industries and local communities to position Sabah as a leading blue economy hub in Southeast Asia.
'This council reflects the State Government's unwavering commitment to unlocking Sabah's ocean potential, expanding investment opportunities, and enhancing the people's well-being through sustainable and resilient development,' he added.
With this initiative, Sabah is now better positioned to build a prosperous future anchored in marine wealth and the strength of its maritime economy, Hajiji affirmed.
During the inaugural meeting, Hajiji presented letters of appointment to eight core MEBS members.
They are Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Seri Panglima Dr Jeffrey Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister cum Minister of Works, Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, Minister of Finance, Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment, Datuk Seri Panglima Christina Liew, Minister of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship, Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe, State Secretary, Datuk Seri Panglima Safar Untong, the State Attorney-General, Datuk Brendan Soh and the director of the Sabah State Economic Planning Unit.
Additionally, seven chairpersons of Technical Committees were appointed to oversee core components of MEBS, including living resource harvesting, marine business, ocean health, marine spatial planning, new resource generation, river management, and intellectual property.
These roles will be led by senior officials from key state ministries and technical agencies, including the Department of Lands and Surveys, Sabah Biodiversity Centre, and Department of Mineral and Geoscience.
The Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat (SSMJ) will serve as the MEBS Secretariat, ensuring the effective coordination and implementation of council decisions from both technical and administrative standpoints.
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