He said this shows that the coalition is not merely making promises but taking concrete steps to strengthen governance and build a stronger legal foundation in Sabah.
Among the key laws introduced were the Solid Waste and Public Cleansing Management Enactment 2022, Energy Commission of Sabah Enactment 2023, Gas Supply Enactment 2023 and Electricity Supply Enactment 2024.
The Sabah Renewable Energy Enactment 2024 and the Climate Change and Carbon Governance Enactment 2025 also reflect the state’s commitment to green energy and environmental sustainability.
Armizan said the GRS government tabled an anti-hopping law by amending the Sabah state constitution on May 25, 2023, marking an important step towards ensuring political stability.
“All of these form part of the 51 new and amended enactments passed by the Sabah state legislative assembly since 2021 – a significant milestone in the state’s legal reform efforts,” he said in a Facebook post.
He added that chief minister Hajiji Noor’s administration had also undertaken institutional reforms by strengthening the role of the Sabah state attorney-general’s department, which now has prosecutorial powers over state-related offences such as land, forestry and environmental cases.
Previously, such powers were only vested in the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC). This authority was formally recognised by Putrajaya on April 6, 2023, expediting enforcement processes in Sabah.
Armizan, who is also the domestic trade and cost of living minister, said GRS’s upcoming state election manifesto will prioritise legal reforms that align with economic development and public well-being.
On July 31, the state government established the Sabah law reform advisory council, which is chaired by former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak David Wong, as an independent body to provide expert input on state legislation.
Among those appointed to the council are former Sabah Law Society president Roger Chin, and David Fung, one of the lawyers involved in Sabah’s successful legal bid to seek 40% of federal revenue derived from Sabah.
Chin has commended Hajiji’s administration for its ongoing efforts to defend Sabah’s rights, including clarifying historical records related to federal revenue derived from Sabah between 1964 and 1968.
According to Armizan, the establishment of the Sabah law reform advisory council demonstrated GRS’s intent to involve local legal experts from various backgrounds to ensure reforms are conducted professionally, strategically and based on local expertise.
“GRS wants to move in a more structured and systematic way. We are leveraging the expertise of Sabahans to ensure that every legal and institutional reform truly contributes to the state’s progress and the well-being of its people,” he said.