KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has set a new conservation record by planting 12,000 coral fragments in Kudat district, the largest initiative of its kind.

The Malaysia Book of Records verified and recognised this achievement on Monday (May 19) during the 9th Anniversary of the Gazettement of Tun Mustapha Park in Kudat.

Various agencies, local communities, and volunteers planted the coral fragments on the seafloor within Tun Mustapha Park (TTM) at Simpang Mengayau (Tip of Borneo) near Pulau Kalampunian from May 5 to May 18.

Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Christina Liew praised local communities as the true guardians of the sea during the event.

Some of the coral reef frames being set up in the earlier stages of the programme.

"Congratulations to the Director of Sabah Parks (Dr Maklarin Lakim) and his team, all collaborative partners, and implementing agencies that turned this vision into reality,” she said.

"To the local communities – you are the true guardians of the sea. This collaboration strengthens an inclusive and effective conservation network,” she added, noting the figure of 12,000 coral fragments reflected everyone’s determination and unity.

Liew acknowledged the vital role played by villages like Tajau Laut, Marang Parang, Bavang Jamal, and the Banggi Island community in conservation, from joint monitoring and coral reef restoration to community-based ecotourism.

She said this activity was completed ahead of schedule in just four days with over 500 participants, including Sabah Parks, WWF-Malaysia, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, enforcement agencies, and the private sector.

Participants included certified divers, non-divers, local communities from Kg Tajau Laut and Simpang Mengayau, and various stakeholders, including tourism players.

Liew said much of this project was made possible through corporate social responsibility (CSR) contributions from various entities, including the private sector and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

“These contributions reflect broad confidence in marine conservation efforts in Sabah and show that public-private collaboration can drive sustainable environmental restoration initiatives,” she said.

Students learning about making reef frames during the attempt.

"The spirit of togetherness shown by participants – divers, communities, students, and volunteers – is the true backbone of this event’s success. This is the ‘Unite for the Ocean’ spirit we aim to cultivate," she added.

Liew noted that this significant project not only contributes to biodiversity policies at state, national, and global levels but also supports the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"My hope is that this initiative does not end as a symbolic event, but is followed through with action plans such as scientific monitoring, community education, and regular reporting so it may serve as a national and global reference," Liew said.

Regarding the role of Tun Mustapha Park (TTM), she noted that since its gazettement nine years ago, TTM has pioneered the management of marine protected areas in Sabah.

Divers carrying out works underwater previously.

It is Malaysia’s largest multi-use marine park and one of the most expansive in the region, housing over 528 species of fish, 250 species of corals, three endangered sea turtle species, dugongs, dolphins, and iconic species such as whale sharks and whales.

Liew said these achievements result from science-based conservation, including marine biological monitoring and coral restoration techniques, underscoring the importance of scientific data in decision-making and evaluating management effectiveness.

"Preserving such a vast area is no easy task. The decision to gazette Tun Mustapha Park was based on years of scientific research, including biodiversity mapping, critical habitat analysis, and data-driven zoning,” she said.

This area encompasses more than 50 islands, such as Banggi, Balambangan, Malawali, Tigabu, and Maliangin, with over 80,000 residents in 53 coastal and island villages.

Liew said the gazettement required unwavering dedication, multi-stakeholder coordination, and patience in facing legal challenges, economic pressures, and climate change.