KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah government has been urged to come clean on the alleged bribery scandal involving mining licences implicating several GRS leaders.
Sarifuddin Hata (Warisan-Merotai) in thanking Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor for his commitment to cooperate with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over the matter, said that Hajiji should ensure transparency and provide clarity to the people.
“Tell us if there is really no misconduct in this case and tell us who are the companies involved in mining, which are the districts and how many are involved. Who gave the approval for the prospects and so on,” he said minutes before ending his debate on the Sabah Budget 2025 at the state Legislative Assembly sitting here on Monday (Nov 18).
Sarifuddin said that Sabah was full of valuable mineral resources including gold and nickel.
“Years back, Sabah depended on timber and we prospered from timber. I too was a recipient of this, I was a Yayasan Sabah scholarship recipient.
“Now, timber has reduced a lot and if we depended on oil and gas alone, I am sure this too will finish soon,” he said.
Sarifuddin said what is left for Sabah to bank on properly is minerals, but if it could not manage this well, the people would be the end losers.
He also said that if everyone wanted to fight over this, then what would be left for Sabahans?
“Previously we had gold in Balung (Tawau), but we only got 5% royalty. If we commit past mistakes again, we will get the same thing, maybe a 5% royalty (from mining activities).
“So I ask that government-linked companies and state-sanction organisations such as Yayasan Sabah provide benefits such as dividends and scholarships to Sabahans,” Sarifuddin said.
He said if the licences were given to any random companies or entities, Sabah would only get so much royalties.
