In a statement issued on Thursday , the organisation said it was concerned by the recent announcement made by Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal regarding the proposed silica sand mining industry in Pulau Balambangan, Kudat.
TMP is also home to the second-largest concentration of coral reefs in Malaysia, which contributes to more than 12% of Sabah's marine fisheries and aquaculture production with a value of RM184mil in 2017. "As such, we urge the state government to take this into consideration and turn down the proposed mining project,"he said, in reference to the announcement by Mohd Shafie during the state assembly meeting on Tuesday .
"In the case of the proposed Balambangan mining project, operations are likely to impact the aesthetic value, water quality of the coastal areas and the rich fish stock around the coral reef areas,"Dr Chan lamented.