THE state of Sabah announced the Blue Economy Council, the seventh of such high-level bodies established under the GRS-led administration since 2023.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor chaired the council’s inaugural meeting at Menara Kinabalu on Monday.
He said the council, known as MEBS, was tasked with aligning Sabah’s maritime policies with the Sabah Maju Jaya development agenda.
The formation of MEBS was approved at the state Cabinet’s 10th meeting earlier this year.
“Through MEBS, we will coordinate major policies, approve high-impact programmes and monitor the Blue Economy Strategy,” Hajiji said.
He added that the council would also support innovation and technology transfer in the marine sector, including areas such as aquaculture, ocean health, offshore energy and biodiversity.
Hajiji said the council would serve as a platform linking government, industry, academia and local communities, with the goal of positioning Sabah as a regional leader in Southeast Asia’s emerging blue economy.
Eight core members received appointment letters on Monday. They include senior ministers, the State Secretary, the State Attorney-General, and the Director of the State Economic Planning Unit.
Seven technical committee chairs were also appointed to oversee key areas such as marine resource management, spatial planning and river governance. These roles are held by senior officers from agencies including the Department of Land and Survey, the Sabah Biodiversity Centre, and the Minerals and Geoscience Department.
The Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat has been designated as the administrative secretariat for MEBS, responsible for coordinating policy implementation and follow-ups on council decisions.
The Blue Economy Council joins six other strategic councils already established by the state government. These are the Climate Action Council, Labour Advisory Council, Economic Advisory Council, Logistics Council, Environment Protection Council, and the TVET Council.
Each council oversees a critical sector and serves as a coordination platform linking ministries, experts and state agencies.
Some of these councils have begun to show results.
The Climate Action Council has completed Sabah’s greenhouse gas inventory and led the planting of over four million trees. The Logistics Council helped address port congestion at Sapangar Bay, while the TVET Council has introduced new training programmes in electrical and gas-related fields.
As for MEBS, Hajiji said the council marks a key step toward unlocking Sabah’s marine potential. – June 16, 2025
