WARISAN president Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal has raised concerns that the Sabah government is repeating the same mistake in fisheries as it did in oil and gas - giving away lucrative rights to non-Sabah companies.
Shafie was referring to the recent understanding between Alpha Ocean Resources Bhd and Kota Kinabalu Mayor’s office on the development of a tuna and deep-sea fishing landing port in Kota Kinabalu.
The agreement also includes a proposed 30-year concession on two land parcels in the city with an option to extend for a further 30 years.
The estimated total cost of the project and concession is valued at RM360 million.
The former chief minister questioned why Sabah Fish Marketing Sdn Bhd (SAFMA) was not involved, which was established to manage, market and safeguard Sabah’s fisheries.
“This is what worries us. Until our fish resources are also handed over to a company registered in Kuala Lumpur.
“Why is there no SAFMA? Are there no local companies that can do this? Our land is gone, our fish now, our oil and gas, and now even our Tuna,” he said.
Shafie also cited land concessions and the fate of Sabah Forest Industries, as well as oil and gas reflected how the state’s wealth was being locked up by outsiders.
He also noted the 14-year production-sharing contract in the Malaysia Bid Round 2025 awarded to a peninsula-based firm by Petronas to explore the Mutiara Cluster located in the Sandakan basin.
The state said Sabah firms lacked the expertise and capital to bid for the Mutiara Cluster oil block.
The Warisan leader warned that Sabah’s political voice now was tied and could not control the outflow of its resources. - August 28, 2025
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