Call to beef up Natural Resources and Environment Ministry

KOTA KINABALU: A local conservationist has called on the new Federal Government to maintain and strengthen the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

Although Pakatan Harapan has pledged to have a slimmer Cabinet, Sabah Environmental Trust (SET) chief executive Dr Rahimatsah Amat said the ministry is needed to save guard the various local natural ecosystems.

Dr Rahimatsah said the formation of the ministry was a milestone in improving the management of natural resources and environment and was in line with the practice in most developed countries.

“I’m glad Pakatan, in its election manifesto, has pledged to balance economic development with the protection of the environment,” he said in a statement.

He said the ministry plays a crucial role in ensuring that this pledge is fulfilled as it houses most of the relevant key government departments including Forestry Department Peninsular Malaysia, Wildlife and National Parks and Marine Park Malaysia.

Dr Rahimatsah pointed out that the Federal Government has also pledged to review the country’s environmental policies and regulations to be on par with international best practices and hoped they include the Fisheries Department in this effort.

This is because fishery resources in our territorial waters and the Exclusive Economic Zone is in serious decline, he said.