State Government continues to advance in agriculture, industry, and tourism

4 August 2024

KOTA KINABALU: The State Government continues to move swiftly in supporting the development policy of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) direction, which aligns with the spirit of the Malaysia Madani concept, said the Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.

He stated that Malaysia Madani aims for Malaysia to continue developing rapidly, playing a significant role on the global stage, and regaining its status as a respected and esteemed nation.

He mentioned that the State Government, with full confidence, continues to advance, implementing the state's direction with an emphasis on several key sectors outlined in the SMJ direction, particularly in agriculture, industry, and tourism.

“Praise be to God, these three sectors have boosted the state’s economy, attracting investors to Sabah and simultaneously opening job opportunities for local youth. Additionally, we are also focusing on developing human capital and enhancing the welfare of the people.”

“With the support of the state cabinet, all plans and policies can be implemented, following the SMJ direction policy, which serves as the foundation for the progress and development of the state of Sabah,” he said at the People's Grand Assembly at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) on Sunday.

The event was attended by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Panglima Anwar Ibrahim, who is also the President of the People's Justice Party (PKR).

Hajiji stated that Sabah has become a focal point for several investors, bringing in investment values reaching RM12 billion over the past two years, thanks to the dynamic and investor-friendly leadership of the country, allowing Sabah to directly benefit from this momentum.

He stated that thousands of job opportunities can be offered to the children of Sabah as a result of the influx of domestic and foreign investors, leading to the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) and the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP) being fully occupied. This situation necessitates the State Government to seek and identify new industrial parks to meet the needs and rapid growth of the industrial sector in the state.

“The value of this investment is expected to increase in the coming years, as many more local and foreign investors are showing interest in investing in Sabah,” he said.

Hajiji mentioned that due to the close cooperation between the State Government and the Federal Government, Sabah has successfully established a strategic partnership with PETRONAS through the signing of a Commercial Collaboration Agreement (CCA), which provides many opportunities and benefits to Sabah, such as greater participation in oil and gas exploration ventures in the state.

Regarding the issue of extreme poverty, which is close to the Prime Minister's heart, he stated that the State Government is determined to address this issue decisively by immediately offering jobs to those affected, involving several government agencies, GLCs, and private sector investors.

“This proactive step has successfully reduced the number of extreme poor in Sabah to only 1,147 Heads of Households (KIR) as of July this year. This aggressive approach will continue to be implemented to eradicate extreme poverty in Sabah. However, this refers to extreme poverty. The number of people categorised as poor remains high in Sabah and requires ongoing support from both the State and Federal Governments,” he emphasized.

He added that through continuous and aggressive efforts to enhance economic growth, the government will explore new resources in addition to existing ones.

“To this end, the State Government is exploring the potential of the Blue Economy, which involves the exploration of marine treasures as a new economic source and other industrial products that can be derived from it.”

“Sabah, surrounded by the South China Sea, Sulu Sea, and Celebes Sea, has high potential for the exploration and development of the Blue Economy. In October, the State Government will organise an international seminar on 'The Blue Economy,' which is expected to be launched by the Prime Minister,” he said.