Prospective mining permit makes sense
Published on: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Published on: Tue, Apr 22, 2025
By: Abbey Junior Text Size: Aksyah said there were several reasons why opting for a private company made more sense, including the technical expertise required and the high costs associated with mineral exploration activities. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah government's decision to award an exploration licence for a gold prospecting project in Tawau to a private company rather than a government-linked agency is wise as it protects public funds and taps into private sector expertise. Former Sabah Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) deputy liaison chief Aksyah Nasrah said he supported Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor's response in the State Assembly against opposition leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who had questioned why the project was not given to a government-linked company (GLC). Aksyah said there were several reasons why opting for a private company made more sense, including the technical expertise required and the high costs associated with mineral exploration activities. 'The companies granted licences are equipped with the knowledge and capability to conduct exploration professionally. These firms are driven by profit and are accountable for their investments,' he said in a statement on Thursday (April 17). 'In contrast, which GLC or government agency has proven experience in gold exploration? The answer is none,' he added. He pointed out that mineral exploration is a costly venture, and if no resources are discovered, the financial risk would fall on the private firm, not taxpayers. 'Public funds must be spent prudently. So it makes perfect sense that exploration is handled by private entities whose business model revolves around investment and returns,' he said. He added that the government would only move to the next phase — issuing a separate mining licence — if the exploration proves successful. 'At that point, the Sabah government, via Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM), will negotiate terms, including equity participation and state benefits,' he said. Aksyah also defended the integrity of the Chief Minister and SMM amid allegations linked to businessman Albert Tei, saying that Hajiji had made it clear there was 'nothing to hide' and that the state's mineral licensing process was above board. He said the Chief Minister had consistently upheld due process and proper governance since leading the state, and that this same approach applied not only to gold but to all mineral-related activities in Sabah. 'Through these calm but firm responses, we can clearly see Hajiji's wisdom in protecting Sabah's interests by leveraging private sector expertise to boost state revenue without using public money,' said Aksyah, now aligned with Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS). * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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