KOTA KINABALU, Dec 25 — In the face of the economic slowdown as a result of COVID-19 outbreak, the Sabah state government, led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has taken measures to spur growth by introducing Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Roadmap.
The five-year development plan launched by Chief Minister Datuk Hajiji Noor on March 29 outlines three main thrusts based on the SMJ slogan where S refers to the three main economic sectors covering agriculture, industry and tourism; the letter M refers to human capital and the well-being of the people; while the letter J refers to green infrastructure and sustainability networks.
The SMJ Roadmap has 584 initiatives covering 304 core initiatives and 280 enablers and the state does not have to wait long to reap the benefits from the roadmap as it has received an investment from a South Korean company.
SK Nexillis brings in an investment worth RM4.2 billion to the Land Below the Wind by setting up its first overseas copper foil manufacturing plant at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), which is expected to create 400 job opportunities in the state.
K.K.I.P Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of the state government and operator of the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), entered into a lease agreement with SK Nexilis Malaysia Sdn Bhd, a unit of SK Nexilis South Korea on July 26 for the opening of the manufacturing plant which is expected to start operating in 2023.
According to Hajiji amid the COVID-19 outbreak, Sabah managed to attract RM11.2 billion worth of investments, especially in the industrial and tourism sectors, indicating that the state economy is recovering.
Besides that, the state government has identified a potential area for economic growth at the Sabah-Kalimantan border through the development of Serudong (in Kalabakan, Sabah) -Simanggaris (in Kalimantan, Indonesia) area in anticipation of major developments that will take place with Indonesia’s plan to move its capital to East Kalimantan.
On Dec 7, the state government signed the Commercial Cooperation Agreement (CCA) with Petroliam Nasional Berhad (Petronas) to drive efforts in developing its economy affected by the pandemic.
Hajiji also announced the establishment of SMJ Petroleum Sdn Bhd to enable the state’s commercial participation in the oil and gas industry as well as coordinate all state government-linked companies to ensure the terms and conditions of the CCA are implemented in the interest of its people.
Hajiji, who is also Sabah Finance Minister, when tabling the state’s Budget 2022 on Dec 3 said oil royalty was expected to contribute RM1.2 billion, followed by sales tax from petroleum products (RM1.1 billion), enabling a surplus budget of over RM110.68 million for next year.
Sabah will also receive an allocation of RM5.2 billion from the federal government to build and upgrade water, electricity, road, education and health infrastructure through Budget 2022 tabled by Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz on Oct 29.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob in his speech at the Malaysia Day celebration on Sept 16 in Sabah promised to pay close attention to issues related to the interests of Sabah and Sarawak through the Special Council of the 1963 Malaysia Agreement (MA63), making the celebration more meaningful for Sabahans.
This commitment was honoured when the bill to amend the Federal Constitution relevant to MA63 was approved unanimously at the Dewan Rakyat thus giving recognition to the demands and special status of Sabah and Sarawak upon joining Malaysia in the Federal Constitution.
Hajiji said the decision was important to pave the way for the full restoration of the agreement, while Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Maximus Ongkili dubbed it as a major legal victory to claim the rights of Sabah and Sarawak through MA63.
Like the rest of the country, Sabah is still fighting to contain the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak and as of Dec 14, a cumulative total of 237,122 cases were recorded with 227,760 recoveries.
As of Dec 11, Sabah had provided vaccination against the deadly virus to 2.39 million of its people of which 75.67 per cent were its adult population while the rest were adolescents.
Apart from the pandemic, the flood issue is another thorn on its side.
On Sept 15, massive floods hit Penampang affecting 937 residents, in addition to incidents of flash floods in several areas including Kota Kinabalu.
Sabah Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin gave an assurance that he would solve the flood problem as well as work to address the water supply disruption that has been plaguing the people of Sabah.
This year also witnessed the launch of three packages under the Sabah Eastern Zone Pan Borneo Highway for the Sandakan-Kinabatangan-Beluran-Telupid alignment covering 58 kilometres involving a cost of RM877 million on Nov 6, which is expected to be completed in October 2024.
