‘Sikuati sand mining will have little environmental impact’
SILICA sand mining at Sikuati here will be carried out with minimal environmental impact, said Sabah Parks director Dr Maklarin Lakim. He said the project, signed between the state and Chinese investor SBH Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd on Jan 18, was aimed at developing communities in the district.
“We will support it if it benefits the community. When the people get to enjoy the development spillover, they will no longer need to harvest sea products.
“In terms of project implementation, we are confident that the government has a proper system and standard operating procedures.
“The departments involved will conduct studies, including the environmental impact assessment and how to avoid damaging the environment,” he said, adding that the project would be carried out inland and not at the Tun Mustapha marine park.
Maklarin was speaking after an event to mark the sixth anniversary of the Tun Mustapha Park here.
Tun Mustapha Park comprised more than 50 islands and islets off the north coast of Sabah, spanning across Kudat, Pitas and Kota Marudu.
It was also home to the second-largest concentration of coral reefs in Malaysia, which contributed more than 12 per cent of Sabah’s marine fisheries and aquaculture production valued at RM184 million in 2017.
At a separate event, Kudat district officer Bakri Nanun said the project, which would involve about 890 hectares of land, would provide 300 jobs to locals.
“This project will develop Kudat and secure jobs, and help people there come out of poverty. All of us are aware that the district is one of the poorest in Sabah.
“There are a few protests, but they were not as aggressive as before. The villagers have to understand that they need to come out of poverty.
“We are hope that they will accept it,” he said, adding that Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor was expected to officiate in the groundbreaking next month.
Kampung Andap Jawa village chief Sutiman Pardi said several discussions were held with the Kibing group on land acquisition, employment and other matters.
“The company has agreed not to disturb lands that have houses. For now, there are over 200 houses and the village is about 3km from the beach.
“Kibing’s spokesperson has also agreed to prioritise villagers here for 300 jobs, but will extend the offer to other villages in Kudat also.
“Other concern is the impact of the sand dredging, whether it will cause (the ground to) collapse, pollution or other negative consequences to the village and surrounding areas,” he said, adding that he would propose that the workers of the mine be paid at least the minimum wage.
In 2019, a similar project was proposed on Balambangan island here, which was within the 900,000ha Tun Mustapha Park, the largest in the country.
WWF-Malaysia had urged the state government to turn down the proposal due to concerns that sedimentation and soil erosion would have negative consequences to the ecosystem and the communities that relied on it.