Sabah’s infrastructure improvement a priority, says CM

KOTA KINABALU: Improving Sabah’s infrastructure will facilitate trade opportunities between Sabah and Kalimantan, especially when Indonesia moves its capital from Jakarta to Borneo, says Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.

It is vital that land, air and sea connectivity are in place, he said.

“Projects such as the Pan-Borneo Highway, Sabah Transshipment Hub Port, extension of the Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Sabah International Convention Centre will be implemented in a more cost-effective and efficient way.

“We are hopeful the completion of these projects will provide strong impetus for the state’s economic transformation in the coming years, and to facilitate trade and investment opportunities between Sabah and Kalimantan, and beyond,” he said in his speech read out by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau.

The Sabah government will also seek to improve basic infrastructure that directly attracts both foreign direct investments and domestic direct investments, especially in various industrial parks such as the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, Palm Oil Industrial Cluster Lahad Datu, and Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park, he added.

Shafie said that despite handling financial troubles inherited from the previous government coupled with global economic uncertainties, the Parti Warisan Sabah-led government is committed to improve public institutions, policies and procedures that will positively impact Sabah’s competitiveness.

“I strongly believe the Sabah government together with the private sector and Sabahans, will hand-inhand realise the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 announced recently.”