Halimah Hassan

Director General of the Department of Environment, Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment

“Taking care of the environment cuts across race and religion. Whoever comes with a complaint, we will take action, we will reach out to all.”

During her thirty-year career at the Department of Environment (DOE), Halimah has been committed to raising environmental sustainability to the top of the development agenda in Malaysia. She has been outspoken about the link between disasters and unbalanced ecosystems impacted by development. She is focused on quality-of-life issues, especially social concerns, when economic policy decisions must be made. She highlights the importance of engaging young people in appreciating the environment and understanding their role as its protector.