Sedia to spearhead Sabah border development

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) will take the lead in developing Sabah’s side of the Malaysia-Indonesia border.

Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this was approved and conveyed to him by Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohammed.

Hajiji said the development involved the construction of a road to connect Serudong in Kalabakan Tawau to Simanggaris in Indonesia.

“Costing some RM600 million, the project is inclusive of the construction of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security Complex at the entry point in Serudong/Simanggaris to check all border crossings.

“This is also in anticipation of Indonesia moving its capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan,” Hajiji said after chairing the Sedia board of directors meeting at the State Administrative Centre near here yesterday.

Hajiji, who is also Sabah finance minister, added it was imperative for Sedia to play a major role in the realisation of the project.

“Sedia needs to continuously play an active role in the planning and implementation of high-impact projects as well as attract more investors into the state,” he said.

At the meeting, Sedia also sought endorsement of the proposed Sepangar Bay Container Port expansion before its submission to the Prime Minister’s Department and subsequently for approval from the Finance Ministry.

Also discussed was Sawit Kinabalu Farm Product Sdn Bhd’s decision to set up its premium Kinabalu beef and edible bird’s nest production plant at the Sabah Agro-Industrial Precinct in Kimanis.