Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor is pitching the Malaysian state as a destination for impact investors who want measurable environmental and social returns alongside financial gains. Speaking at the Sabah Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit, he highlighted that nearly 30% of Sabah's land is under Totally Protected Areas and the state remains a net carbon sink. The pitch is aimed at investors in green energy, forest conservation, and infrastructure that does not degrade the environment. Hajiji acknowledged that Sabah still needs better roads, more reliable electricity, and cleaner water. He framed the challenge as building a model where sustainability drives economic growth rather than competing with it. The state is looking for partners who can bring expertise and funding to projects that deliver measurable environmental and social outcomes alongside financial returns. The summit was co-organized with Wawasan Open University's George Town Institute of Open and Advanced Studies.
