SEDCO Mining Sdn Bhd, a subsdiary of the Sabah’s SEDCO, is now fully in charge of managing river and sea sand in Sabah after receiving the first batch of TOL data from the Land and Survey Department.

The SEDCO subsidiary officially received the migration data during a ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Hotel, on Wednesday, marking a major shift in how Sabah regulates its sand resources.

“We will carry out this mandate with integrity, transparency, and commitment to sustainable practices,” said CEO Shamsul Bahri Johari.

The handover fulfils a Cabinet mandate dating back to 2009 that empowers SEDCO to take over management of all river and sea sand concessions in the state.

SEDCO Mining was set up in August 2023 and began operations this year. It is now the sole entity overseeing licensing, enforcement, and coordination of vendors.

Meanwhile, SEDCO is a state-owned agency tasked with driving economic growth in Sabah and expanding Bumiputera participation in key industries through its subsidiaries.

“As the sole entity managing river and sea sand concessions, we aim to streamline operations, plug revenue leakages, and ensure our rivers and coasts are protected from over-extraction,” Shamsul said.

The company promised better revenue collection, tighter environmental controls, and more efficient operations using digital monitoring tools.

“Mining processes will be more strictly regulated to ensure environmental sustainability and reduce the impact of erosion and river pollution,” said Shamsul.

The handover was conducted by Land and Survey Department Mineral Division officer Robert Robin Millip, received by Shamsul, and witnessed by SEDCO Chairman Datuk Rubin Balang and Department Director Datuk Bernard Liew Chau Min.  – March 26, 2025