Mini NRES Complex in Penampang represents fulfilment after three-decade wait

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 17): After more than three decades of waiting, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) reached a major milestone with the groundbreaking of the Mini NRES Complex in Penampang.

Minister Dato Sri Arthur Joseph Kurup said the RM80.9 million development, upon its completion, would centralise key federal agencies under his ministry.

At present, the agencies are operating at separate rented premises around Kota Kinabalu and Penampang.

“This complex will serve as a central hub for several departments under NRES in Sabah, namely the Department of Survey and Mapping (Jupem) Sabah headquarters and Kota Kinabalu Regional Topography Office, the Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG), the Department of the Director General of Lands and Mines (JKPTG), as well as the Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia),” he told reporters after officiating at the ceremony.

The complex, to be built on a 6.77-acre site, is designed to improve efficiency, coordination and service delivery by housing all the agencies within a single, purpose built complex.

“The contractor has already entered the site towards the end of last year, and the project is expected to take 40 months to complete, with completion targeted for early 2029,” said Arthur.

The federal minister said the complex would incorporate green and sustainable design elements in line with the ministry’s commitment to environmental sustainability and the government’s green building agenda.

“It will also feature shared facilities such as a multi-purpose hall, laboratories for JMG, storage facilities, and management offices for MetMalaysia,” he said.

Arthur also said the lack of a permanent complex in Sabah had previously been due to financial constraints and competing development priorities, resulting in agencies having to operate from rented offices.

“With this project, we are finally able to realise the aspiration of having our own asset and dedicated complex in Sabah, which will greatly facilitate meetings, training and various administrative operations,” he said.