By Daniel John Jambun, BORNEO’S PLIGHT IN MALAYSIA FOUNDATION(BoPiMaFo (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU: Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo) takes serious note of the statement issued by Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) claiming that its reforms have strengthened Sabah’s mineral governance and boosted state revenue.
We respond with one direct challenge:
If SMM is truly transparent, then publish the full list of companies granted mineral concessions and prospecting licences in Sabah.
1. PRESS STATEMENTS ARE NOT TRANSPARENCY
Sabahans are repeatedly told:
– “strict due diligence”
– “good governance”
– “credible partners”
– “restoring public confidence”
But transparency is not measured by slogans.
Transparency is measured by disclosure.
The public deserves to know:
– Who received the concessions?
– Who are the directors and shareholders?
– Are politicians, proxies, family members, or politically connected individuals involved?
– How were the companies selected?
– Was there an open tender process?
– What minerals are involved?
– How large are the concession areas?
– What are the estimated commercial values?
– How much will Sabah actually earn?
These are not extremist questions.
These are basic governance questions involving Sabah’s natural resources.
2. THE SMM MINING CONTROVERSY ALREADY DESTROYED PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
SMM cannot pretend Sabahans have forgotten the major controversy surrounding Sabah’s mining sector.
Recent public allegations, whistleblower claims, political accusations, and MACC-linked controversies have already exposed serious public concern about how mining concessions and mineral access may be handled behind closed doors.
The issue is no longer merely about “investment.”
The issue is whether Sabah’s mineral wealth is becoming another politically protected extraction system benefiting hidden elites while ordinary Sabahans remain poor.
Once public trust has been damaged, secrecy only worsens suspicion.
3. SABAH’S RESOURCES MUST NOT BECOME ANOTHER ELITE EXTRACTION PROJECT
Sabah has seen this pattern before.
Whenever billions of ringgit in natural resources are involved, ordinary Sabahans are told to trust the system while politically connected groups quietly accumulate extraordinary wealth.
Meanwhile:
– rural districts remain underdeveloped
– infrastructure remains weak
– water supply remains unstable
– electricity remains unreliable
– indigenous communities remain economically marginalised
So Sabahans have every right to ask:
Who is truly benefiting from Sabah’s mineral wealth?
The rakyat?
Or another network of insiders?
4. “STATE REVENUE” MEANS NOTHING WITHOUT PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY
SMM proudly speaks about increasing state revenue.
But Sabahans are no longer impressed by headline figures alone.
Sabahans want accountability.
RM1 million contributions and media-friendly announcements mean very little if the public is denied visibility over the actual concession arrangements behind the scenes.
The bigger the mineral opportunity, the greater the need for public scrutiny.
Not secrecy.
5. IF THERE IS NOTHING TO HIDE — THEN PUBLISH EVERYTHING
BoPiMaFo therefore calls upon SMM and the Sabah Government to immediately disclose:
– the full list of concession and prospecting licence holders
– beneficial ownership structures
– concession maps and sizes
– approval criteria
– royalty arrangements
– Sabah equity participation details
– environmental and community safeguards
Let us be absolutely clear:
Sabah’s mineral resources do not belong to politicians.
They do not belong to cronies.
They do not belong to hidden corporate networks.
They belong to the people of Sabah.
And the people of Sabah have the right to know who is profiting from them.
