Better control over mining

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah now will have a better control on mining of minerals in the State following passing of a Bill to amend the Mining Ordinance 1960 to be cited as the Mining (Amendment) Enactment 2018 at the State Legislative Assembly, Thursday.

Deputy Speaker Datuk Ahmad Abdul Rahman announced the passing of the Bill after it received unanimous support from the members of the August House.

He said the enactment will take effect on the date of its publication in the Gazette.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal who tabled the Bill, said the Bill seeks to amend the existing long title of the 'Ordinance' to a new long title as an Ordinance to make better provisions for prospecting and mining of minerals and for other matters connected therewith.

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He said the Bill also seeks to amend Section 2 of the Ordinance, by inserting the word 'Land' after the word 'Director' that appears in the definition immediately before the definition of 'Chief Inspector'.

"This amendment is in tandem with the amendment that has been made on the definition 'Land' under the Sabah Land Ordinance Cap 68 that has been tabled and passed in the sitting of the State Legislative Assembly here in November, this year.

"This bill would not involve any extra financial expenditure," Shafie said.

He said amendment to the Ordinance is very important for the State Government so as to ensure it has proper jurisdiction at State level to enable the mineral resources to be well-regulated and controlled.

"I realise that there are several investors who come to Sabah not only for the purpose of investing but sometimes we found that they have the rights to buy land, among others.

"So, if we can explain in detail not only the definition of the minerals which we define as well as the facts in the Ordinance, then I am confident that this (amendment) would empower the State government to ensure better control of the assets for the future and heritage of our children and also the State Government.

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"This is also in line with what we want to defend Sabah rights in mining field regardless the investors from within or outside the country," he said.

Asked whether the State Government will make use of the amended Mining Ordinance like what the Sarawak e Government is doing with its Oil Mining Ordinance on Petronas activity in that State, Mohd Shafie said" "We will look into it. We will prioritise on Sabah's interests... (But) we manage things through negotiation, not confrontations." - Hayati Dzulkifli

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