PM VOWS TO BOOST SABAH DEVELOPMENT
Better connectivity, infrastructure will create jobs, boost online businesses for locals
PRIME Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin has assured Sabahans that the government will take all necessary measures to ensure the state is on a par with others.
Acknowledging that Sabah did lack in certain areas, he said under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the government emphasised equal financial resources for the development of the state.
“The Perikatan Nasional government has initiated various programmes to fulfil the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030,” he said during a town hall session at the state administrative centre here.
Present were Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Senior Minister (International Trade and Industry) Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Special Tasks) Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof and other cabinet ministers.
On how the government would
ensure balanced development and jobs for skilled workers in Sabah, Muhyiddin said among the efforts would be to improve connectivity and infrastructure.
He said by having better connectivity
and providing training for people to venture into online businesses, it would help them market products and increase their income.
“Infrastructure development
has to be planned 10 years ahead, under the 12th and 13th Malaysia Plans. We will improve and speed it up, just like the Pan-Borneo Highway.”
As for more jobs in Sabah for locals, Muhyiddin said the state and federal governments had to look for better ways to attract foreign investors to set up businesses here.
He added that due to the fierce competition among countries to get investments, the government was considering offering more attractive incentives after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Exports from Sabah last year were valued at RM41.4 billion and imports at RM38.1 billion.
For the manufacturing sector, investments approved by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority for Sabah last year were RM11.95 billion for 15 projects.
Earlier, Muhyiddin said that for the first phase of the 12th Malaysia Plan, 1,039 development projects with an allocation of RM5.01 billion had been approved for Sabah.
Among the projects were the Pan-Borneo Highway project, expansion of the Sepanggar Bay Container Port, as well as the upgrading of 50 dilapidated schools and connecting roads in rural areas.
On tackling poverty and inclusive development, a special native programme was set up to oversee native customs, native courts and human capital development.
In Sabah, 1.52 million people live in rural areas, which account for 20 per cent of rural people in the country.