KUDAT – The pristine white beaches and moderate livelihoods in the small, quiet village of Sikuati are under threat as a massive RM2 billion sand mining operation is set to start in June, said the project’s detractors.
China-owned Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd has been given the lease early this year from the Sabah government to mine sand on a 2,200-acre plot of land near Kg Sikuati, which is the home of some 200 villagers who are traditionally fishermen.
Kg Andap Jawa village chief Sutiman Pardi said the company has agreed to not to disturb lands where the villagers’ houses are built as well as promised around 300 jobs for the locals when the project takes off.
“Kg Andap Jawa is 3km from the coast, where most of the sand mining activities will be carried out.
But our concern is on the impact of the sand dredging, on whether it will cause harm to the environment and my village as well as the surrounding areas,” said Sutiman, who revealed the villagers held several discussions with firm officials, seeing that it bought several parcels of lands.
The silica mining project comes under the state’s five-year Sabah Maju Jaya plan, which saw a memorandum of understanding between the state’s Industrial Development Ministry and Kibing Solar New Materials on January 18.
With the expected 2,000 job opportunities, 80% will be designated to locals, with 300 of them to those in Kudat and adjacent Kota Marudu.
Kibing Solar New Materials also applied for work permits for 300 China nationals to work in Sabah, while Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Joachim Gunsalam said the project will uplift economic activities here.
Kudat district officer Bakri Nanun told The Vibes that there is small opposition from the affected villagers, but more subdued compared to a similar proposal in 2019.
A sand mining operation was tabled for Balambangan Island in 2019 when Warisan helmed the state government.
The plan earned the criticism of WWF-Malaysia on the adverse impact related to sedimentation, soil erosion and the environment.
Bakri said the locals should not reject this opportunity to alleviate their economic standing.
I think Kudat folk are now more understanding. They need to come out of the poverty trap. They must agree to this project. If not, Kudat will remain one of the eight poorest districts in Malaysia.”
However, Sabah Parks, which jointly manages the almost 900,000-ha Tun Mustapha Marine Park – the largest in Malaysia – off Kudat waters, gave provisional support with the adherence to environmental guidelines.
Its director Maklarin Lakim said local communities will no longer rely heavily on marine resources once they are hired by the firm.
“When the community receives a new stream of income, they no longer depend on the sea.
As far as the environment is concerned, I’m certain that the Sabah government will carry out the necessary studies, such as the Environment Impact Assessment, before mining activities can be carried out.
“If the project will pose a risk to the environment, I am certain the project will not be allowed to proceed.”
Kudat is dubbed the “Bali of Borneo” due to its similar tourism activities and its beautiful beaches, which locals in the district bank on to generate an income. – The Vibes, May 26, 2022
