Sabah Government's stance on oil and gas exploration in Tun Mustapha Marine Park

1 October 2024

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has confirmed that it has not received any applications nor granted approval for oil and gas exploration in the Tun Mustapha Marine Park.

This statement was made by State Tourism, Culture, and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew, emphasising the importance of adhering to regulations governing protected areas.

The Tun Mustapha Marine Park, recognized as the largest marine park in Malaysia, was officially gazetted under the Parks Enactment of 1984 in 2016.

Christina stated, "Any activities within the protected area that have been gazetted under the State Government must obtain approval before any activities can commence."

To date, the authorities overseeing the Tun Mustapha Marine Park have not received any applications or granted approvals related to oil and gas exploration activities within its boundaries.

The Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, through the Board of Trustees of Sabah Parks, is tasked with ensuring the preservation of the marine ecosystem under the Parks Enactment and other relevant state laws.

Concerns have been raised by environmental watchdog RimbaWatch regarding the exploration of block SB-403, which is reportedly awarded under a production sharing contract involving Petronas Carigali, EPMV, and SMJ Energy.

This block is said to overlap entirely with the park's boundaries, posing significant risks to biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities, which rely on the marine resources of the area.