Sabah leader demands immediate freeze on suspicious resource licenses amid corruption concerns

Borneo Post

21-06-2025

Henrynus
RANAU (June 21): In a decisive move to restore public confidence, Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri president Datuk Henrynus Amin called for an immediate halt to all questionable mineral exploration license applications in Sabah.
This urgent demand follows serious allegations of corruption that have tarnished the state's natural resource management, implicating businessmen, government officials, and even Sabah State Assemblymen.
'The public's faith in how Sabah's natural resources are managed has been severely undermined by recent events,' Henrynus stated in a statement on Saturday, emphasizing that the grave accusations against elected officials involved in graft necessitate a thorough investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
While acknowledging the MACC's recent announcement to charge two suspects and a businessman allegedly involved in a mineral exploration conspiracy, Henrynus stressed that these actions are merely a starting point.
He asserted that the approval processes and management of natural resources by relevant departments and agencies lack transparency, appear highly irregular, and are thus suspicious.
He urged the MACC to broaden its investigation significantly.
Specifically, he called for a close examination of the financial ties between prominent tycoons, politicians (or their associates), and government officials involved in the approval of all resource-related permits and licenses, including prospecting, mining, timber and land concessions.
He believes existing police reports from individuals and NGOs, alongside counter-reports, provide sufficient grounds to investigate all implicated individuals.
'We want the State Government to freeze the processing of all mineral applications because there are rumors that more than 30 applications are currently being rushed for approval,' he stated.
Henrynus vehemently condemned the practice of issuing exploration licenses based on political favoritism or as rewards for political allies, only for these licenses to be quickly resold to wealthy tycoons for profit.
'This practice directly harms the people of Sabah, who are the rightful owners of these valuable resources,' he asserted.
He argued there is no moral justification for approving lucrative licenses to political proxies, allowing them to gain financially.
He highlighted how such political corruption has led to the depletion of Sabah's natural resources — including minerals, timber, agricultural land, and stone/sand reserves — at the expense of its own people, disproportionately benefiting non-Sabahan tycoons.
He warned that 'greed and the desire for power are driving the abuse of authority,' risking the future inheritance of generations to come.
Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri is committed to safeguarding a substantial portion of Sabah's natural resource wealth for future generations, preventing its irresponsible depletion.
Henrynus stressed that current exploration and mining licenses primarily benefit political leaders, not the general public.
To address this, he proposed that exploration and mining licenses in areas with proven mineral reserves either be tendered out or granted to Sabah State government-linked companies (GLCs) in partnership with private companies possessing the necessary technical expertise.
This approach, he argued, would not only generate vital state income but also prevent capital outflow.
He also strongly advocated for all proceeds from mineral sales to be reinvested into appreciating assets within Sabah, especially in the very regions where extraction occurs, ensuring lasting benefit.
Alternatively, he suggested that all proceeds from the state's mineral resources be invested in a 'sovereign wealth fund' to ensure long-term benefits for future generations.
'Sabah has already lost vast natural resources like timber, agricultural land and minerals to external private or listed companies,' Henrynus lamented.
He firmly insisted that licenses should only be granted to genuine companies with proven technical and financial capabilities, not to individuals with political connections seeking quick profits.