Kota Kinabalu: A Sabah-based company, Sedafiat Sdn Bhd, is set to modernise and relocate its clinical waste management facility in Sabah with the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) support, which aims to enhance safety, environmental compliance and service efficiency.
Sedafiat is an appointed concession company responsible for managing hospital support services in Sabah and Labuan.
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MOH Director-General Datuk Dr Mahathar Abd Wahab said the Ministry fully supports Sedafiat’s commitment and initiatives in transforming its clinical waste management services.
He said Sedafiat’s commitment to improving its operations, including plans to shift its existing plant to a more suitable and environmentally friendly site, aligns with the standards set by the Department of Environment (DOE).
“Sedafiat’s efforts not only comply with environmental requirements and best practices but also strengthen the quality of hospital support services across Sabah and Labuan,” he said during an official visit to Sedafiat’s headquarters here recently, his first to Sabah since his appointment as the Health Director-General.
During a briefing, Sedafiat Chief Executive Officer Datuk Ag Buhtamam Ag Mahmun said the company currently handles between seven and eight tonnes of clinical waste daily, equivalent to about 230 tonnes monthly or 2,760 tonnes annually.
“The clinical waste is collected from 27 government hospitals, several private hospitals, some 1,000 private clinics, health clinics and other institutions, across Sabah.
“The volume is projected to grow by five to 10 per cent annually, highlighting the urgent need for a new plant with expanded treatment capacity,” he said.
To address this, Ag Buhtamam said Sedafiat plans to build a new treatment plant with an 18-tonne daily capacity with construction work scheduled to begin in July 2026 and is targeted for completion before the end of 2027.
“The new facility will replace the existing Lok Kawi plant, which has been operating since 1997 and currently uses a Microwave Disinfection System (MDS) to treat clinical waste,” he said.
Also present during the visit were Engineering Services Division Director Ir Ts Huszian Husin and Sabah Health Director Dr William Gotulis, along with senior Ministry officials and Sedafiat’s management team.
Following the visit to the Sedafiat office, the delegation toured the Lok Kawi Clinical Waste Treatment Plant before visiting Beaufort Hospital and Keningau Hospital.
