MP presses Sabah govt for decisive action on Kadamaian sand mining

KOTA KINABALU (Jan 14): Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis has urged the Sabah government to take firm and immediate action to resolve the long-standing issue of sand mining activities at Sungai Kadamaian.

She believed that the activity had been operating illegally despite repeated complaints and investigations.

In a statement shared on her social media platforms, Isnaraissah stressed that matters relating to land and rivers fall solely under the jurisdiction of the state government and therefore only the Sabah government has the authority to halt the sand extraction works.

“As the Kota Belud MP and elected representative, my role is to bring the voices of the people to the federal level, and at the same time to pressure the relevant state authorities to take action,” she said.

Isnaraissah outlined several actions she has taken since 2024 to highlight the issue.

In July 2024, she sent a formal letter to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Amar Fadillah Yusof, who is also the Minister of Energy Transition and Water Transformation (Petra), with copies to the then Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan and the Kota Belud District Irrigation and Drainage Department (JPS) engineer.

In the letter, she detailed the chronology of sand mining activities along Sungai Kadamaian up to the Sungai Abai estuary, explained the environmental and safety risks, and proposed that dredging works focus on deepening the Sungai Abai estuary rather than disturbing the upstream river.

She further revealed that on Jan 1, 2025, she submitted a detailed letter to Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, formally stating her opposition to the sand mining activities at Sungai Kadamaian.

According to Isnaraissah, the letter comprehensively outlined the negative impacts of uncontrolled sand extraction, including road damage, disruption of water supply due to deep pools forming at mining sites, increased safety risks from crocodile sightings and adverse effects on the local economy.

“All these concerns were clearly explained and officially conveyed to the Chief Minister,” she said, adding that she has also held numerous meetings and discussions with relevant agencies from 2024 to 2025 to continuously raise the matter.

Despite gaining media attention, going viral on social media and prompting police investigations, Isnaraissah expressed concern that sand mining activities are reportedly still ongoing.

She said the matter would once again be raised in upcoming meetings scheduled with the Public Works Department (JKR), JPS, the District Office and other related agencies.

In her appeal, Isnaraissah urged the Sabah government to listen to the voices of the people and cautioned against using flood mitigation as a blanket justification for profit-driven sand extraction that disregards public safety, livelihoods and property.

She also called on the Chief Minister to personally visit Kota Belud to witness the situation on the ground, suggesting that such a visit be made without prior notice to ensure transparency.