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Excellent choice by Hajiji to appoint Andrew as CM’s special adviser. No Malaysian or any citizen from ASEAN has been invited to advise China at the highest level. Please see item [4] of his CV below.

[1] Board Member, Khazanah Nasional Berhad 

[2] Advisor, UN Environment Programme [UNEP] 

[3] Member, Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers [Hong Kong SAR]. 

[4] Member of International Advisory Councils: China Investment Corporation [CIC], China Development Bank, China Securities Regulatory Commission [CSRC], Securities and Exchange Board of India [SEBI]. 

[6] Adjunct / Special Professor: Tsinghua University [Beijing], University of Malaya, and Chinese University of Hong Kong [Shenzhen]. 

[7] Pro-Chancellor, Bristol University, UK.

[8] Chancellor of Wawasan University

[9] Hong Kong Monetary Authority, Securities and Futures Commission [SFC] of Hong Kong

2. Sabah’s past conservation efforts have paid neligible return.

It has been a fact for decades. Sabah has the richest/largest natural diversity but the poorest in Malaysia. Please see Chart 1 and 2 which are self-explanatory. 

Sabah got taken for a ride by many so-called international conservation NGOs. Our past leaders have been doped by the West’s NGOs, praising Sabah’s conservation efforts while they remain the biggest polluters especially USA. They don’t pay or get penalized for polluting the world. Sabah has stayed poor for trying to save the world. 

3. Andrew’s sustainable growth + capital market is quantum leap for Sabah.

Finally, there are potential real benefits from Sabah’s conservation.

Andrew’s initiative to marry Sabah’s conservation in forest and mangrove and capital market will finally position Sabah to become global capital of sustainable growth with financial benefits. 

4. Andrew’s Road Map for Sabah’s Sustainable Growth and Prosperity.

Some of Andrew’s important milestones Sabah’s sustainable growth are:

[1] Sabah is a major Global “Living Laboratory”

The world is failing to meet UN Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs] by 2030. Sabah has a unique advantage, because our state can boast immense biodiversity, rich cultural heritage, and nearly 30 per cent of its landmass under Totally Protected Areas. He views Sabah as the perfect “living laboratory”. It is an ideal testing ground to pilot, to experiment with, to scale practical green and inclusive projects that the rest of the world can adopt.

Sabah can become the leader in global sustainable growth model. 

[2] Monetising Natural capital Sabah has the natural capital to monetise. 

Hajiji has reaffirmed his aim to safe guard Sabah’s natural assets. 

Instead of relying on extractive industries like timber logging, the state must leverage impact investing to monetise its natural capital—such as its marine reefs, ancient rainforests, and mangrove carbon sinks. This creates new, sustainable streams of income and jobs for locals while preserving the ecosystem. 

[3] Matching these local entrepreneurs with global impact investors, venture equity, and blended finance structures. 

The goal is to fund projects that deliver both measurable environmental/social benefits alongside actual financial returns.

5. The Role of Capital Markets in Sabah’s Conservation.

Andrew initiated and organised the Asia-Pacific Impact Investing for Sustainable Development Summit 2026 [Sabah AIMS 2026], held on July 13 and 14 in Kota Kinabalu. The most important part was the introduction of the idea of leveraging the capital market to derive prosperity from Sabah’s unique natural assets.

Thanks to the respect he commands, Andrew has been able to assemble some very prominent international speakers.

[1] Dato’ Mohammad Faiz Azmi.

Executive Chairman of the Securities Commission Malaysia [delivered a special address on capital markets, Islamic social finance, and sustainability frameworks]. His speech is of particular significance. As the highest-ranking capital market regulator in Malaysia, he has shown it is possible to marry capital market and Sabah’s natural assets!

[2] Shri Amarjeet Singh.

Whole-Time Member [WTM], Securities and Exchange Board of India [SEBI] delivered a virtual address on cross-border capital and regulation.

[3] Ma Jun.

Founder and President of the Institute of Finance and Sustainability

[IFS], and Chairman of the Green Finance Committee of the China Society for Finance and Banking.

[4] Dato’ Omar Siddiq.

Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of HSBC Bank Malaysia.

HSBC, which is a major international bank is keen to promote financing of sustainable growth.

[5] Prof. John W. Crawford.

Internationally recognised academic specialising in sustainability, soil science, and complex adaptive systems.

Is Sabah ready for sustainable growth? How important is Andrew’s initiative. 

Sabah has more than enough natural assets. The regulators are ready with the capital market. The banks are looking for sustainable growth projects to finance. All that is needed is for Sabah to step up and implement Andrew’s Initiative.

It can propel Sabah from getting practically zero RM and now to billions from Sabah’s vast natural asset. It can benefit Sabahans especially the young generations. It will transform Sabah into the global capital of sustainable growth. It will mean Sabah not having to tolerate industries that pollute. It will give all Sabahans enriching, healthier life.

Quality Implementation of Andrew’s initiative is pivotal to Sabah’s sustainable growth and prosperity.

Success to all initiatives and policies is highly dependent on the quality of the implementers. This is no exception.

The implementers should be carefully selected, with the right credentials and appropriate experience. For example, the implementation of this initiative will need BLENDED FINANCE EXPERTS, DEFINITELY NOT COMMERCIAL BANKERS.

Suggestion for implementation as shown in Chart 5.

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