Sabah should Adopt ‘Durian Strategy’ for Seafood Exports to International Markets

20 October 2024

KOTA KINABALU: Tan Sri T.C. Goh, President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong), supports Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's assertion that Sabah's marine resources have not been fully utilised and require enhancement.

Goh expressed hope that both the federal and state governments, in collaboration with the private sector, will explore and implement strategies similar to those used in the durian export industry to promote Sabah's seafood in international markets.

He emphasised that the key to success for both seafood and durian exports lies in their freshness and taste, which significantly enhance their market value.

“Transport Minister Anthony Loke has previously proposed using Hong Kong International Airport as a transit hub to airlift Sabah’s renowned seafood, such as tiger prawns and grouper, to global markets. This is a proposal that deserves serious consideration from the government and industry stakeholders,” he stated.

Currently, Goh noted, seafood from Sabah not only caters to domestic consumption but is also supplied to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and China. However, to further expand into international markets, collaboration with the private sector is crucial, alongside government efforts to fully develop the deep-sea fishing industry.

Goh urged the federal government to provide comprehensive support for Sabah's blue economy, particularly in enhancing the deep-sea fishing sector, which holds significant potential. He also called for improvements in logistics, including air transport, to ensure that Sabah's seafood can be exported fresh and reach international markets more efficiently.

He pointed out that while Sabah’s seafood currently meets domestic demand, it is also supplied to Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and China. However, to expand further into international markets, collaboration with the private sector is essential, in addition to government efforts, to fully develop the deep-sea fishing industry.

Goh urged the federal government to provide comprehensive support for Sabah's blue economy, particularly the deep-sea fishing sector, which holds significant potential. He also emphasised the need for improved logistics, including air transport, to ensure that Sabah's seafood can be exported fresh and swiftly to international markets.

He noted that both local and international tourists appreciate the affordable, high-quality seafood in Sabah, which has established the state as one of the country's premier destinations for "food tourism."

Goh, who is also the President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS), made these remarks in response to Prime Minister Anwar's comments during the opening of the 2024 Sabah International Blue Economy Conference (SIBEC).

The Prime Minister highlighted that despite Sabah's abundant marine resources, the state still imports over 50% of its food, indicating that these resources are not being fully utilised. He called on the Sabah state government to leverage its marine resources to enhance food security and reduce reliance on imports.

Goh further noted that although Sabah has over 3,000 fishing vessels in the industry, most operations are limited to shallow waters within 30 nautical miles from the coast, and deep-sea operations require significant improvement.

He called for a partnership between the government and the private sector to introduce advanced fishing technologies and training programmes aimed at developing deep-sea fishing in a more professional and corporate manner.

He highlighted that in 2021, the federal government, in accordance with the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63), delegated deep-sea fishing rights to the East Malaysian governments, including Sabah. This grants the Sabah government, through the Sabah Fisheries Department, full autonomy to issue deep-sea fishing licenses and permits for fishing equipment.

Goh added that Sabah's blue economy has an estimated annual yield potential of over 491,000 tons, valued at RM3.25 billion, but less than half of these resources have been utilised so far. He urged both federal and state governments to collaborate and encourage private sector participation to fully realise Sabah’s blue economy.

He also noted that within the scope of the blue economy, there are opportunities to develop renewable marine energy, blue carbon initiatives, tourism, maritime transportation, marine biotechnology, and other upstream and downstream industries, all of which present significant investment potential.