See Chee How — Photo by Roystein Emmor
KUCHING (Nov 24): Sarawak must adopt a clear and measurable definition of green buildings and set up a strong and proactive regulator modelled after Singapore’s Building and Construction Authority if the Building (Amendment) Bill 2025 is to achieve its intended purpose, said Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How.
While describing the move to amend the Building Ordinance 1994 as timely and necessary in view of the global shift toward sustainability, See cautioned that Sarawak must be precise in defining what constitutes a green building, noting that the current proposed definition, which describes a green building as one that is environmentally responsible throughout its entire life cycle, was too broad and ambiguous.
“A green building cannot simply be qualified by superficial features. Environmental responsibility is a broad and abstract concept and must be articulated with clarity.
“I urge the government to emphasise resource efficiency and environmentally friendly measures across every stage of a building’s life cycle,” he said when debating the Bill.
He said Malaysia currently has no mandatory statutory definition for green buildings, adding that the concept is guided mainly by federal policies and the industry-developed Green Building Index, which focuses on efficiency in energy, water and materials while reducing environmental impact.
See said the Green Building Index itself was adapted from international frameworks such as Singapore’s Green Mark and Australia’s Green Star systems.
Drawing comparisons with Singapore, he pointed out that although the republic does not adopt a single universal legal definition, its Building Control Act mandates specific environmental sustainability standards for different categories of buildings.
“Compliance is measured through the Green Mark Certification Scheme administered by the Building and Construction Authority and governed by detailed technical requirements set out in the Code of Environmental Sustainability of Buildings.
“These measurable outcomes that define a green building in Singapore, not broad generalities, and that this is the model Sarawak should emulate,” he said.
See also stressed that the proposed Sarawak Building Board, which will be established under the Bill, should be structured with powers and functions similar to the Building and Construction Authority.
He noted that since 2005, Singapore had successfully advanced green building development through the Green Mark Certification Scheme, followed by successive Green Building Master Plans introduced in 2006, 2009 and 2021.
“These plans strengthened Singapore’s environmental targets through mandatory energy improvements, rigorous audits and progressively stricter energy use intensity requirements.
“Singapore had devised regulations, codes of practice, audit systems, mandatory energy improvement regimes and energy efficiency enhancement plans, and that Sarawak could draw from this wealth of experience to set performance-based and enforceable standards,” he said.
Hence, he said the proposed Sarawak Building Board must be equipped with powers to oversee safety, quality, inclusiveness, sustainability, and productivity in the built environment sector.
He also said the Board should play a proactive role in promoting measurable compliance, setting clear performance benchmarks and carrying out consistent audits across both new and existing buildings.
The post Clear definition of ‘green building’, strong regulator needed, says Batu Lintang rep appeared first on Borneo Post Online.