Mineral resources management still hot topic in State Assembly

KOTA KINABALU: The management of mineral resources remained a hot topic in the State Assembly, as Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor addressed the issue during his winding-up speech on Wednesday. 

However, the discussion was conducted in a more structured and composed manner.

Responding to questions raised over the past few days regarding Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM), Hajiji provided clarity on the matter.

“To date, based on recommendations from the SMM Board of Directors, the State Government has issued 26 prospecting licenses in accordance with Section 6 of the Sabah Mining Ordinance 1960. These licenses are valid for a period of two years.

“Out of the 26 prospecting licenses, two were voluntarily withdrawn by the license holders, one was revoked and four expired due to various reasons. These include the lack of significant exploration progress within the two-year period, the failure to secure agreements from Sustainable Forest Management License Agreement (SFMLA) holders, or the inability to gain permission from the Forestry Department to access certain areas. Additionally, some licenses were located within Totally Protected Areas (TPA) or sensitive water catchment zones.

“Currently, 19 prospecting licenses remain active. These licenses are solely for exploration purposes to determine whether there are economically viable mineral deposits to be mined.

“Any application for a mining lease to begin mining operations will only be considered if the exploration results demonstrate the presence of valuable minerals worth developing,” Hajiji explained.

He emphasized that decisions regarding mining lease applications would involve discussions in the State Cabinet to ensure the state’s interests are safeguarded.

Regarding the controversy surrounding mineral management, Hajiji stated that SMM had submitted reports to the relevant authorities. The State Government has handed over the matter entirely to these authorities to investigate and take appropriate action if any misconduct or abuse of power is found.

“Since this case is under investigation, I cannot provide further details as any statement might jeopardize the ongoing investigation,” he said.

Hajiji also assured that SMM’s new administrative management operates efficiently and adheres to principles of good governance.

Among the state assembly members who raised supplementary questions on the matter were former Chief Minister cum opposition leader Datuk Seri Panglima Shafie Apdal (Senallang), Datuk Jonnybone Kurum (Telupid), Sairifuddin Hata (Merotai) and Datuk Darell Leiking (Moyog).

Shafie called for a thorough investigation, stressing the potential damage to Sabah’s reputation due to incidents like the cash seizure at the Sabah Water Department in the past.

Meanwhile, Jonnybone viewed the issue as an opportunity to rectify and address existing problems that had occurred without wider awareness.