KUCHING – Dato Ir. Lo Khere Chiang is taking the lead in making sure Sarawak has one clear and consistent standard for green buildings through the new Building (Amendment) Bill 2025.
The Batu Kitang assemblyman said the changes are important because the state has been using different rules in different areas. This has caused confusion for architects, engineers and developers, and has slowed down building approvals.
“Right now, our standards are not the same. Each council has its own rules, and consultants also have different ideas of what a green building is.
“That is why some buildings cannot be certified as green, even though they were designed for that purpose. This amendment will fix the problem,” he said.
Dato Ir. Lo explained that the new Sarawak Building Board will act as the main body to set technical standards, manage accreditation and make sure all green building projects follow the same guidelines across the state.
He also said the board will help stop unqualified people from claiming to be architects or engineers.
“Without this board, anyone can come and say they are an architect or engineer.
“We must make sure only trained and certified professionals, including certified green architects, are allowed to design green buildings in Sarawak,” he added.
Dato Ir. Lo supported the plan to appoint two more Commissioners, saying this will help strengthen enforcement. With more officers, the state can check for non-compliance, investigate issues and take action when needed.
Responding to concerns raised by the Padungan assemblyman, Dato Ir. Lo said the amendment does not create extra bureaucracy. Instead, it removes the confusion that caused approval delays.
“This is not about slowing things down. Today, approvals are slow because standards are not aligned. With this amendment, the process will be more consistent, more professional and more reliable,” he said.
He also noted that Sarawak must keep up with global green economy trends. Investors now look for certified standards and strong ESG practices.
For Dato Ir. Lo, the amendment is an important step to make Sarawak more prepared for the future, with safer, greener and better-managed building development.
