KAPIT, July 17: Kapit now has its own Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) divisional office following its official soft opening on Thursday, strengthening its presence in central Sarawak.

The new office forms part of NREB’s organisational restructuring initiative in February 2024 and is aimed at enhancing environmental monitoring, enforcement and service delivery at a divisional level.

Controller of Environmental Quality Sarawak and NREB Sarawak, Datu Jack Liam said, the office reflects the agency’s commitment to strengthening its operational capacity and improving environmental governance across Sarawak.

“The opening of the NREB Kapit Divisional Office is not merely about a new workplace. It represents NREB’s continued commitment to strengthening its operational capacity, expanding our presence throughout Sarawak and enhancing our ability to deliver effective environmental governance.

“Moving forward, I expect the new office to contribute meaningfully in order to achieve NREB’s strategic objectives,” he said during the Soft Opening Ceremony of the NREB Kapit Divisional Office here on Thursday.

The office began operations on July 1, 2024 with an initial workforce of six offices which has since doubled to 12 in 2026 to meet its growing operational and enforcement needs.

The Kapit Division which covers approximately 38,934 square kilometres, is one of Sarawak’s largest administrative divisions and is home to major development projects including the Baleh Hydroelectric Project, underscoring the need for a dedicated NREB presence.

With the officers now stationed in Kapit, NREB ensures faster response times, strengthens field operations and enhances collaboration with government agencies in ensuring compliance with environmental regulations including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) or Environmental Management Plan (EMP) approval conditions.

As of June 30, 2026, the Kapit Divisional Office is monitoring 75 projects located in Song, Kapit and Bukit Mabong after overseeing 101 projects throughout 2025. -TVS