Warisan to transform east coast economy
KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan Sabah will turn Semporna into a tourist paradise while Tawau will be transformed into the most important seafood export hub in the east coast.
Vice President Junz Wong said under Warisan’s road map for Sabah, president Shafie Apdal envisioned a more vibrant Sabah’s East Coast, taking advantage of its natural resources and maximising its potentials.
Wong said one of the more exciting elements of the party’s plan was the fully functioning seafood export hub in Tawau which would eliminate the need to transport seafood from the East Coast to Kota Kinabalu.
“Instead of going all the way to the capital, fishermen, including fish farmers if they want to, could simply drop their products or move their bases to the hub for processing and export.
“We are aware of the need to apply for export certification and tests to ensure quality control of our seafood produces, that is why this hub will facilitate also the lab for such tests.
“We are confident this would transform the economy of the people and make the industry more efficient,” Wong said the hub would have its own Research and Development Center to study and explore value-added opportunities and other downstream activities that could be created from the industry.
New technologies and findings could help explore the needs and demands of both local and international markets and thus, come up with a holistic method making products guaranteed to give high returns to the State, he said.
Tawau Port, he said was earmarked for the hub because of its strategic location and close proximity to the Kalimantan Borneo as well as the Celebes Sea shipping route.
Currently, Tawau Port is a major export and import gateway especially from North Kalimantan.
The multipurpose port is equipped with various essential facilities to support the handling of various cargo types.
Wong said with the upgrading of the Tawau Port to become seafood export hub, it was hoped the fisheries industry from Sandakan and Lahad Datu would move their operation into the district.
Furthermore, to encourage the growth of Lahad Datu town, Wong said Warisan government would set up Sabah Palm Oil Board (SPOB) so that the industry in Sabah would no longer rely on the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
“We believe with Sabah Palm Oil Board, we can develop Palm Oil industry more effectively especially when it comes to downstream industrialization.
“Our Palm Oil industrial players as well as the experts, are equally capable if not better in ensuring the quality of our Crude Palm Oil (CPO) and managing the development as we know what’s best for Sabah Palm Oil industry.
“At present, whenever we want to export our crude palm oil (CPO), we have to go to one of the five exporters chosen by MPOB.
“Under SPOB, we will not have that limitation and everybody will have the opportunity for downstream industrialization. This will maximize the potential of Palm Oil industry and eliminate discrimination as no one could monopolize this industry,” he said.
Furthermore, Wong said the SPOB would set up centers to carry out R&D works to add values to the industry and to create downstream activities so that Sabah would not rely solely on raw products.
Warisan will propose to move the army and maritime from Lok Kawi and Sepanggar respectively to East Coast especially for Lahad Datu to curb the security threats.
“So basically, this is what will happen. Tawau will be a seafood export hub, Semporna a tourist paradise, while Lahad Datu will concentrate on oil palm downstream industrialization while Sandakan will focus on mixed efforts for both oil palm downstream as well as tourism.
“This will not only create many job opportunities but also enhance the chance for entrepreneurship especially for our younger generations,” he concluded.