Sarawak’s GAGA 2026 honours sustainability, environmental governance, geopark mngmt champions

THE second Green and Geopark Excellence Awards (GAGA) made history when it brought together eco-warriors from the peninsular to Sarawak to campaign on a common premise of fighting climate change.

For the first time, an environment event was held by integrating activists and public sector leaders from states such as Penang, Terengganu, Selangor, Perak, Kedah and Sarawak.

GAGA also recognised them when it conferred awards for 26 recipients including four city mayors in a splendour event in UCSI Hotel Kuching.

It is a unique event because it is tailored to reward “heroes” in sustainability while also holding conferences to generate attention to the issues surrounding protecting the environment, including the use of hydrogen.

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian presented the awards to the four mayors who spoke of their admiration of their respective city councils in the migration towards green initiatives.

The four mayors were Kuching South mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng; Datuk Hilmy Othman (Kuching North mayor); Adam Yii (Miri mayor); and Datuk Anthony Rajendran (George Town/Penang Island mayor).

Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian presenting the Local Government Sustainability Leadership award to George Town/Penang Island mayor Datuk Anthony Rajendran

Wee also represented the Kuching South City Council, Hilmi the Kuching North, Yii the Miri City Council and Rajendran, the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).

Green practice vital for future

Wee received the leadership award in Outstanding Sustainable City Transformation, Hilmy for Distinguished Smart City Innovation and Digital Award while Yii led Miri to receive two awards for the Zero-Waste Community Initiative and Green Building awards.

Rajendran won a leadership award for Local Government Sustainability.

Besides the mayors, water resources champion Datuk Seri Jaseni Maidinsa was recognised for over three decades of leadership in conservation and preservation of water, particularly in his home state of Penang.

Jaseni was recalled from retirement to lead the Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) to help each state water authority to cope with the costing needed to maintain sustainable operations and to ensure continued supply.

He was awarded the Sustainability Transformation Leadership Award.

Sarawak’s Pengurusan Aset Air Bhd (PAAB) chairman Datuk Seri Jaseni Maidinsa

Elsewhere, veteran public relations practitioner Dr Sharzede Datu Salleh Askor who was head hunted to lead Sarawak Tourism Board as the CEO received the Longest Sustainable Event Excellence-Rainforest World Music Festival award.

All in all, GAGA recognised 26 recipients in its 2026 edition for excellence in sustainable green practices with Sarawak’s local authorities taking a significant share of the merits.

In his keynote address, Dr Sim spoke of everybody needing to work together to arrest the ill effects of climate change.

He advocated for green practices to be integral to the state development efforts under the post COVID-19 strategy 2030. Sustainability is part of two other pillars – economic prosperity and social inclusivity.

“Not only do we’ve the Sarawak Sustainability Blueprint but also the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Roadmap for Local Authorities.”

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On this note, Dr Sim revealed that state assessments showed that Sarawak’s city councils recorded a sustainability level of 67% compared with the national average of 43% while municipal councils posted bout 60% with district councils at 52%.

Environmental leadership recognition

The Kuching South City Council (MBKS) receive four separate group awards – Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security; Environmental Education and Awareness; Smart Green Infrastructure Innovation; Green Technology Innovation; and Community Circularity Pioneer.

This made the local authority the top award recipient among the 26 others.

Kuching North City Commission (DBKU) received three awards – Circular Economy Pioneer; Nature-Based Solution; Sustainable Urban Innovation; and Environmental Policy and Governance.

Other recipients included Penang Hill Corporation general manager Datuk Cheok whose leadership secured him the Outstanding Sustainable Destination & Biosphere Stewardship Award.

Forest Department Sarawak director Datuk Hamden Mohammad received the Sustainable Forest Stewardship Award; the Regional Corridor Development Authority (RECODA) received the Aspiring Sustainable Infrastructure Award while secondary school SMK Lutong received the Outstanding Green School and Circular Economy Education Excellence Award.

From Sabah, the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre received the Top Green Tourist Attraction Award.

For geoparks whose underlining theme is sustainability, Global Geopark Network executive board member Dr Azmil Munif Mohd Bukhari received the Excellence in Geopark Network Leadership and International Cooperation Award.

He is also chairman of the Langkawi Unesco Global Geopark Community Engagement and Public Education Committee.

Tropical Charters Langkawi received the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Compliant Travel Operator Award while TUI BLUE The Haven Ipoh received the Most Alluring Geopark Abode Award.

The 2026 awards marked the second edition of GAGA which was held alongside the two-day Zero Waste Management 2.0 Conference that ran from Oct 5 to 6.

A collaboration with the Philippines-based Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives (GAIA), GAGA positions itself as a regional platform dedicated to recognising environmental leadership, sustainable geopark management and innovation in responsible tourism.

The awards were aligned with ASEAN+1 collaboration for a greener future and reflected Malaysia’s commitment to climate action and sustainable development, including the 13th Malaysia Plan. – Oct 9, 2026

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