SEVEN months into a new Warisan-led Sabah government, Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal has his hands full looking into a wide range of issues that will impact on Sabahans and the state.

The issues range from timber to the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), state rights, overhaul of the state finances, problem of stateless persons, migrant control and security.

The new government also touched on human capital development, security, land matters and development.

Here are some of the popular and unpopular initiatives and policies under Shafie’s watch.

* Timber sector 

One of Warisan’s first actions is to take control of timber resources. On May 23, Shafie announced the ban on round log exports, aiming to increase local supply for downstream activities and create more job opportunities for Sabahans.

The move comes following an internal inquiry team auditing the timber sector for any discrepancy, while Sabah proposed an overhaul of the sector.

In July, the chief minister revealed the lopsided timber deals signed by the previous Barisan Nasional government and how the state-owned Yayasan Sabah was left to bleed, while the private companies profit from the foundation’s landbank.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission also investigated, including calling in the former state chief conservator Sam Mannan for questioning, as well as seizing logs.

A politician also allegedly had been receiving kickbacks from timber concessions.

The Sabah upstream timber industry generated RM1.68 billion from log exports in 2017, far behind the peninsula, which stood at RM15.35 billion.

On November 15, the state cabinet approved the revision of the State Forestry Enactment 1968 to focus on sustainability and domestic enhancement.

Shafie said plans are also being made to empower Yayasan Sabah, which still has a massive landbank, to cut, buy and sell all timber while the state reiterated its commitment to conservation initiative.

On November 26, Shafie held a meeting with timber players from the peninsula, saying Sabah is open to local companies seeking to set up shop in Sabah, offering them access to raw supply and land for factories.

* Extending territorial rights, improving mining laws

Taking a cue from Sarawak’s move to impose a 5% tax on petroleum products from next year, Sabah on November 15 passed the amendment to assume territorial rights up to the continental shelf.

The state assembly unanimously supported the inclusion of two additional paragraphs under Section 4 of the Sabah Land Ordinance (Cap 68).

Additional paragraph “f” asserts state ownership to all rivers, slopes, lakes and water course on land while paragraph “g” extends the state authority over the seabed extending more than 320km from land.

Although the amendments conflict with the Territorial Sea Act 2012 and the Petroleum Development Act 1974, Putrajaya via federal law minister Liew Vui Keong said it will look into and amend laws that hamper Sabah’s effort.

On December 17, the state government moved closer towards realising a tax on mineral resources as it amended the state mining ordinance.

According to Shafie, the amendments will give Sabah better control over its own natural resources under the ground.

* Seafood tax

From January 1, fish exporters need to pay 5% tax on all fish, except processed, they sell to outside buyers.

The move was approved during the state budget sitting on November 14.

Exporters, who made a fortune exporting the state’s seafood to places like Hong Kong and Japan, however, are opposed to the tax.

* Swiftlet control

The state Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry on October 20 said Sabah now has full control over the issuance of licensing for bird nest farming. This covers farming, downstream raw, clean processing plants and export.

With this restoration of the relevant executive power, bird nest farmers and industry players gain direct access for exporting to overseas markets, such as China.

* Water Department revamp

The scandal-ridden Sabah Water Department has raked in more than RM58 million following a massive overhaul under the Warisan-led government.

The overhaul included replacing all key people and allocating RM140 million to reduce non-revenue water which is one of the highest in the country at 51.6%.

The department managed to reduce 5% NRW within seven months and identified that one of the problems was water theft.

Water theft refers to individuals or companies collecting water and reselling them at a higher price.

The department also terminated the contract of six companies to maintain 58 treatment plants.

Infrastructure Development Minister Peter Anthony said the previous government signed a lopsided deal and with the termination, Sabah will save more than RM1 billion.

* Dam misery   

Despite opposition from environmental groups and civil society, one of the most unpopular decisions taken by the Warisan-led government is to continue with a dam project.

This project is crucial as the west coast suffers from an acute undersupply of treated water.

The present Babagon Dam is unable to cope with the demand of the growing west coast population. The previous BN government was also troubled by the proposed Kaiduan Dam project in Ulu Papar.

But when the Warisan-led government decided to build the dam in Papar, Shafie extended the state government’s request for funding to the federal government.

The first proposed site for the dam was in Kg Bisuang in Papar but after much opposition from environmental groups, Sabah vaguely identified a new location in Mandalipau, also in Papar.

* Mega-beachfront project flip-flop

To do or not to do: that is the question that lies behind the billion-ringgit Tanjung Aru Eco development project.

Sabah might have decided on the project but the way politicians are discussing it is creating confusion on the ground.

According to some environmental groups, one of the reasons Warisan was voted in was due to party’s promise to put an end to the project.

Among them is Warisan’s Tanjung Aru assemblyman Junz Wong, who was quoted as saying the project was cancelled. Wong later said he was misquoted, adding that he never said the project would be scrapped.

But it is now clear the project will continue, perhaps a toned-down version of the original plan.

On July 4, Shafie denied the project was cancelled but said it was under review. – December 24, 2018.