Sabah’s first mini scheduled waste management facility

SIPITANG (Dec 13): Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick officiated the groundbreaking ceremony for Sabah’s first mini scheduled waste management facility, developed by E-Concern (Borneo) Sdn Bhd at the Sabah Oil & Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP) here on Saturday.

Describing the project as strategic, Ewon said the facility involves a total investment of more than RM1 billion and is expected to generate new employment opportunities for Sabahans while supporting safe, sustainable and competitive industrial growth.

“The construction of this facility is in line with the Sabah First vision that I introduced at the ministry, which focuses on building a larger base of income-earning Sabahans, whether as business owners or as part of the industrial workforce,” he said.

Ewon, who is also the State Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, said the scheduled waste management facility is a critical requirement to support industrial expansion, particularly as the management of scheduled waste is expected to be taken over by the State Government in the future.

“Among the key benefits of this project are reduced reliance on facilities outside Sabah, lower logistics costs, assured compliance with environmental standards, reduced pollution risks, and the attraction of new investments into SOGIP, KKIP and POIC.

“The facility is also projected to create about 270 job opportunities when fully operational, with priority given to Sabahans,” he added.

He expressed hope that all relevant agencies and departments, including the Department of Environment (DOE), Sabah Environmental Protection Department (JPAS), Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation (SOGDC), Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), local authorities and the Public Works Department (JKR), would continue to work closely to ensure smooth project implementation in compliance with prescribed standards.

Ewon said his ministry remains committed to strengthening the investment ecosystem in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya aspirations through three main thrusts: boosting investor confidence via clear policies and effective inter-agency coordination; empowering local entrepreneurs to participate in investors’ supply chains; and enhancing logistics and transport ecosystems, including port capacity, industrial facilities and supporting utilities.

On investment performance, he said MIDA records showed that over the five-year period from September 2020 to September 2025, Sabah’s manufacturing sector recorded approved investments totalling RM24.98 billion.

“This comprises RM19.55 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) and RM5.43 billion in domestic direct investment (DDI), involving 91 projects and creating more than 8,000 new job opportunities,” he said.

Ewon noted that SOGIP continues to emerge as a key catalyst for the state’s industrial growth, with the entry of major investments from companies such as Esteel Enterprise Sabah, PETRONAS and E-Concern (Borneo) Sdn Bhd, reflecting strong investor confidence in Sabah’s economic potential.

Also present were Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Thomas Logijin; SOGDC Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Mohd Azmir Datuk Ramli; E-Concern (Borneo) Sdn Bhd director Tang Siong Hee; and Sipitang District Officer Abdul Karim A.M. Zahari.