Originally published in The Borneo Post

Kota Kinabalu | 23 September 2025 – Thirteen lives lost. Hundreds displaced. Homes and livelihoods were swept away, and thousands more had their properties damaged. On Malaysia Day—when we should have been celebrating unity, resilience, and progress—Sabah was instead mourning. Relentless rains triggered deadly landslides across districts like Kota Kinabalu, Papar, and Penampang; among the victims was a mother and her child in Kampung Mook, Kinarut. These are not isolated incidents, nor are they simply “natural disasters.” They are a stark reminder of the urgent need to strengthen our collective efforts in environmental stewardship, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development.

Floods may be triggered by extreme weather, but landslides are often the result of deeper, interconnected vulnerabilities. In previous years, development in Sabah has often moved forward with inadequate understanding and consideration of crucial ecological factors. Poor drainage systems frequently ignore ecosystems, water catchment integrity, and the land’s natural function. As a result, they prove woefully inadequate in the face of extreme weather. While landslides are typically considered natural disasters, they often result from poor development in slope areas. Land opening and geographical changes in hilly areas without proper safety and mitigation measures cause slope instability, which in turn leads to landslides. This is not a new phenomenon; we have seen the same scenario happen before throughout Malaysia. When forests are cleared, slopes destabilised, and land is cut without proper assessment or safeguards, the terrain loses its natural ability to absorb and regulate water. Development projects that proceed without integrated planning and comprehensive evaluations that evaluate geological, climatic and economic conditions further compound the risks. In fragile landscapes, even minor disruptions—such as poorly managed land cutting—can have cascading effects, turning heavy rainfall into deadly landslides.

Effective disaster prevention begins long before the rain falls. Land planning and development in Sabah are governed by a robust framework, including the Town and Country Planning Ordinance (Sabah Cap. 141), which mandates the orderly and progressive development and use of land in towns and other areas, whether urban or rural, for land management and planning to preserve and improve. In addition, the Sabah Environmental Protection Enactment 2002 mandates the requirement of an environmental impact assessment report or a proposal for mitigation measures to be submitted by considering any development, big or small, being assessed to ensure mitigation is in place.

These assessments are designed to ensure that projects are planned with environmental safeguards in place, especially in areas prone to erosion, flooding, or ecological sensitivity. However, when development occurs without adequate planning or misses key regulatory steps, it can lead to unintended and serious consequences. We advocate for the full and consistent implementation of existing laws and policies, including integrated land use planning and sustainable infrastructure design. By strengthening existing systems—and ensuring they are applied rigorously and transparently—we can mitigate environmental risks and protect vulnerable communities from future disasters.

The extreme weather events witnessed in Sabah—such as frequent high rainfall and intense heat—are consistent with climate change projections. As global temperatures rise, we can expect more unprecedented climatic events, placing greater strain on both natural systems and built infrastructure. These conditions are no longer anomalies; they are becoming the new norm. Without proactive adaptation measures, communities will remain vulnerable to cascading impacts. Strengthening climate resilience must therefore be central to development planning, with infrastructure not only designed to withstand future climate scenarios, but also strategically placed to avoid damaging natural features that contribute to climate adaptation.

Strengthening climate resilience also requires addressing governance and transparency. A fragmented, siloed approach to development planning—where agencies operate in isolation—undermines the effectiveness of environmental safeguards and disaster risk reduction. Without coordination between departments responsible for land use, infrastructure, water resources, and disaster management, critical ecological considerations are often overlooked. Development approvals must proceed with meaningful consultations with local communities and environmental experts. When transparency is lacking, the risk of compromised construction quality and weakened oversight increases. To build trust and ensure long-term resilience, development decisions must be guided by inclusive, accountable processes that prioritise environmental integrity and community well-being.

Nature offers robust, cost-effective solutions to mitigate flood risks—solutions that are often overlooked in favour of hard infrastructure. Forest protection, reforestation, wetland conservation, sustainable urban drainage systems, and river restoration can significantly improve water management and reduce the impact of extreme weather events. Intact forests and wetlands act as natural climate stabilisers, absorbing rainwater, reducing runoff, and preventing soil erosion. In urban areas, green infrastructure such as permeable pavements, bioswales, and rain gardens can ease pressure on drainage systems and reduce flash flooding. These approaches are most effective when implemented through an integrated land management framework—one that recognises the interconnectedness of environmental, social, and economic factors and ensures development respects natural flood pathways.

In the Tawau-Kunak and Tabin landscapes, WWF-Malaysia works with government agencies, communities, and partners to restore degraded forests, protect watersheds, and promote sustainable land use. These collaborations go together with district-level planning, guiding land use decisions that protect both lives and the environment. These nature-based solutions reduce vulnerability to floods and landslides while enhancing biodiversity. By aligning development with ecological realities—especially in Environmentally Sensitive Areas—we can safeguard lives and livelihoods while building long-term climate resilience and adaptation. These efforts also support wildlife corridors for elephants, orangutans and other wildlife species, and improve water security for downstream communities.

Moving forward, Sabah must invest more intentionally in keeping nature intact—not as an afterthought, but as a central pillar of its development strategy. Protecting forests, wetlands, and natural flood pathways is not just about conservation; it’s about safeguarding lives and livelihoods. At the same time, we need to strengthen our readiness for future climate extremes by embedding resilience into every stage of the decision-making process. This means ensuring that environmental impact assessments are rigorous, spatial plans are respected, and development is guided by sustainability and climate foresight rather than immediate economic returns.

With the state elections on the horizon, Sabah has a timely opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to resilience and sustainability. This moment calls for leadership—both current and emerging—that is forward-thinking, inclusive, and ready to strengthen systems. We need decision-makers and future leaders who take responsibility, act transparently, and drive meaningful reform—leaders who can break down silos, enforce existing laws, and prioritise climate resilience and ecological integrity over short-term interests. Only then can we build a Sabah that is not only prepared for the next storm—but resilient enough to thrive beyond it.

By Sheelasheena Damian
Policy Analyst & Legal Counsel, WWF-Malaysia (Sabah Landscapes Programme)

Photos:

Heavy rains triggered landslides in areas across Sabah where infrastructure development overlooked ecological safeguards—highlighting the urgent need for more sustainable planning in sensitive landscapes. © Cherlanne Patrick / WWF-Malaysia

Forest restoration and slope stabilisation management help reduce erosion and support biodiversity, demonstrating how nature-based solutions can reduce disaster risks more sustainably than conventional infrastructure. © Sabah Landscapes Programme / WWF-Malaysia

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About WWF-Malaysia

World Wide Fund for Nature Malaysia (WWF-Malaysia) was established in 1972 and is part of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the international conservation organisation. Working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and nature, WWF-Malaysia’s efforts to conserve nature focus on six major themes: forests, oceans, wildlife, food, climate and energy, as well as freshwater. Our mission is to stop the degradation of the earth’s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature.

Find our latest news here: https://www.wwf.org.my/media_and_information/media_centre_and_updates/