Fourteen projects valued at RM702 million have been submitted for consideration under the First Rolling Plan of the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), with Sabah’s Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Haji Noor expressing hopes for their approval by the Ministry of Economy.
The projects, which are set to commence early next year, focus on boosting economic activity across the state.
Hajiji called for careful monitoring to ensure the projects’ successful implementation.
He said that challenges should be addressed swiftly to avoid delays in progress.
“These projects must be closely supervised to ensure any issues are resolved promptly,” Hajiji said at a meeting held at the Rumpun Bajau Sama Cultural Centre, on Friday.
“We are committed to ensuring accountability, as demonstrated by our 15 consecutive years of a clean financial record from the Auditor-General.”
As Chairman of the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia), Hajiji highlighted the authority’s proactive role in fostering economic growth. He pointed to the completion of the Sabah Border Area Economic Development Study, which was funded by the Economy Ministry.
The study, which focuses on the regions of Sipitang, Nabawan, Kalabakan, and Tawau—strategically located near Northern Kalimantan, Brunei, and Sarawak—identifies nine promising sectors for development.
These sectors include tourism, aquaculture, palm oil, biofuels, and cross-border trade. The study projects that these sectors could increase the Gross Value Added to existing resources by 330%, reaching RM1.6 billion by 2040, and generate 10,660 jobs.
Additionally, Sedia is exploring blood cockle farming in collaboration with Malaysia and Sabah’s fisheries departments.
Feasibility studies have identified several suitable locations in Tawau, Semporna, Tuaran, Kudat, Beluran, and Teluk Padas Beaufort. The initiative could help create a People Income Initiative (IPR) project benefiting more than 3,000 people.
Sedia is also working with the Malaysian Technology Development Corporation (MTDC) to commercialise 10 local research projects.
Furthermore, Sabah has been selected as a test site for passenger and cargo drones, under a partnership between Sedia and FUTURISE Berhad, a company under the Ministry of Finance.
Since its inception in 2009, Sedia has implemented more than 1,275 projects, securing RM3.8 billion in funding.
Of this, approximately RM2.8 billion has been spent on high-impact projects, including poverty alleviation and human capital development. – March 21, 2025.
