Arthur Joseph Kurup

Summary

Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup is the two-term MP for Pensiangan (Sabah) and 2nd president of PBRS, a Barisan Nasional component party. Since December 2025 he has served as Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability in the Anwar Unity Government, where his principal legislative priority is the passage of Malaysia's National Climate Change Bill and the operationalisation of a national carbon market. He also holds the Sook state seat (won November 2025) and chairs Sabah BN, making him one of the most senior Sabah political figures in the current federal administration.

Biography

Datuk Seri Arthur Joseph Kurup (born 4 August 1981) is a Malaysian politician, lawyer, and economist serving as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Pensiangan, Sabah, since May 2018 [1]. He has held the post of Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim since December 2025, having previously served as Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security (December 2023–December 2025) and Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation (December 2022–December 2023) [1]. He also won the Sook state seat in the November 2025 Sabah State Election under the Barisan Nasional (BN) ticket with a 4,727-vote majority [2]. Arthur is the eldest son of the late Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, the founding president of Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS), and succeeded his father as the party's 2nd president in January 2023 [1]. He was formally elected PBRS president unopposed at the party's 4th triennial delegates conference in November 2024 following his father's passing in April 2024 [3]. Prior to politics, Arthur worked as a Trade and Legal Officer at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland, and served as a Director of the Sabah Housing and Development Town Board [1]. In January 2026, he was appointed Sabah BN chairman [3]. He has also been appointed as the Sabah BN chairman and is a key advocate for Sabah's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) [3].

Known for

Arthur Joseph Kurup is defined politically by his stewardship of Malaysia's environmental and natural resources agenda as NRES Minister, particularly his drive to establish a National Climate Change Bill (RUUPIN) and the National Carbon Market Policy (NCMP) [4]. He is also the 2nd president of PBRS and Sabah BN chairman, representing the Murut-majority interior region of Pensiangan across two successive general elections [2]. He carries on a political dynasty started by his father, the late Tan Sri Joseph Kurup, who founded PBRS in 1994 [1].

Political positions

On climate change and environmental policy, Arthur Joseph Kurup is pushing for the passage of the National Climate Change Bill (RUUPIN) to create a legal framework for monitoring, verifying, and trading carbon emissions [4]. He launched the National Carbon Market Policy (NCMP), approved by the Cabinet on 1 April 2026, aimed at positioning Malaysia as a credible participant in international carbon trading markets [5]. He stated in April 2026 that the government would review the implementation of a proposed carbon tax, citing geopolitical tensions and the need to avoid additional cost burdens on industries and ordinary consumers [4]. On Sabah's political interests, he has articulated that Sabah BN's priority is the full implementation of Sabah's rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), including the 40 per cent revenue entitlement and the restoration of agreed state powers [3]. On PBRS party direction, he has stated his intention to retain core values of loyalty, integrity, and being people-centric while adapting the party to contemporary political conditions [3].

Education

1. Pre-2005Trained as a lawyer and economist; professional qualifications not further detailed in public sources.⛓

Before politics

1. Pre-2018Worked as a Trade and Legal Officer at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in Geneva, Switzerland before returning to Malaysia.⛓
2. Pre-2018Served as a Director of the Sabah Housing and Development Town Board.⛓

Political career

1. November 2015Elected Deputy President of PBRS, a position he held until becoming party president in January 2023. Had previously served as Vice President and Youth Chief of PBRS.⛓
2. May 2018Won the Pensiangan parliamentary seat in GE14 under the PBRS ticket, succeeding his father Joseph Kurup who had held the seat since 2008. Won with a majority of 2,314 votes in a five-cornered contest, garnering 11,783 votes.⛓
3. February 2019Federal Court upheld the Election Court decision to strike out the election petition by PKR's Raymond Ahuar, who had challenged Arthur's GE14 victory on grounds of money politics. Arthur was ordered to receive RM40,000 in costs.⛓
4. August 2021Appointed Deputy Minister of Works in the Barisan Nasional administration under Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob.⛓
5. November 2022Defended the Pensiangan parliamentary seat in GE15 under the BN ticket, winning the seat.⛓
6. December 2022Appointed Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.⛓
7. January 2023Took over as the 2nd President of PBRS after his father Tan Sri Joseph Kurup stepped down after helming the party since its founding in 1994.⛓
8. December 2023Appointed Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food Security following a cabinet reshuffle, replacing his previous role as Deputy Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.⛓
9. 16 November 2024Formally elected PBRS president unopposed at the party's 4th triennial delegates conference in Kota Kinabalu, having served as acting president since his father's death in April 2024.⛓
10. December 2025Promoted to full Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) in the Unity Government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.⛓
11. November 2025Won the Sook state seat in the 17th Sabah State Election under the BN ticket with a 4,727-vote majority in a five-cornered contest, defeating incumbent Datuk Ellron Angin of GRS.⛓
12. January 2026Appointed Sabah BN chairman by BN's Supreme Council.⛓
13. 1 April 2026Cabinet approved the National Carbon Market Policy (NCMP/DPKK), developed under his ministry (NRES), as a framework for voluntary and compliance carbon markets and Malaysia's participation in international carbon trading.⛓

Election history

• 2025SookWon⛓
• 2022PensianganWon⛓
• 2018PensianganWon⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentArthur Joseph Kurup is a cabinet minister in the Unity Government, appointed NRES Minister in December 2025. He champions the National Climate Change Bill (RUUPIN) and the National Carbon Market Policy as the government's primary instruments for climate action and low-carbon economic transition.⛓
• VerifiedFactsArthur Joseph Kurup won the Pensiangan parliamentary seat in GE14 (2018) with 11,783 votes and a majority of 2,314 votes in a five-cornered contest. The Federal Court upheld his election in February 2019 after a petition by the PKR candidate was struck out. He successfully defended the seat in GE15 (2022) under the BN banner. He also won the Sook state seat in November 2025 with a 4,727-vote majority.⛓
• IndustryThe Edge Malaysia reported that industry observers and carbon market stakeholders welcomed the NCMP launch but noted the absence of a definitive carbon tax price. The Malaysia Carbon Market Association president noted the importance of building carbon credit supply and MRV infrastructure before activating compliance mechanisms.⛓
• OppositionMalaysiakini reported that Arthur Joseph Kurup was among ten BN MPs who signed statutory declarations supporting Muhyiddin Yassin for prime minister after GE15, before ultimately remaining within the BN framework under the anti-party hopping law and supporting the Unity Government.⛓