The Sabah government is pushing back against claims that silica sand was illegally exported to China, calling the allegations baseless and misleading.

Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe made it clear: there was no commercial export.

“The claim that we secretly shipped Sabah’s silica sand to China is completely false,” Phoong said.

He confirmed that 2,598.93 tonnes of the material were sent between July and August 2023, but not for trade. The shipment, he said, was for quality testing only—a one-time process to determine if the mineral meets industry standards before any potential commercial deals.

“This wasn’t an export. This was a controlled shipment for assessment purposes,” Phoong stated.

The controversy started after social media users accused the Sabah government of bypassing regulations and allowing silica sand—a valuable industrial material—to be shipped out without proper oversight.

“These allegations have no basis. Sabah has strict policies in place to manage natural resources, and no unauthorized sales or exports have happened,” said Phoong. 

Silica sand is a key raw material in industries like glass manufacturing, electronics, and solar panel production, making it a highly sought-after resource.

Phoong stressed that any future decisions regarding its extraction or export would be made transparently, with strict oversight, and always in Sabah’s best interest.

“We’re managing our resources responsibly. No deals will be made without full evaluations and clear benefits to Sabah,” he added. – February 12, 2025.