Sabah Mineral Management Sdn Bhd (SMM) said it granted conditional permission to apply for a prospecting licence to Bumi Suria Sdn Bhd, but it was later cancelled after the company failed to submit the required documents.

It said that on March 24, after the company had failed to file the required documents, it issued an official letter of cancellation, which it accused MalaysiaNow of malicious omission.