TUARAN – Sabah has received approved investments totalling RM11.5 billion involving 89 projects – which have created some 4,566 jobs since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic until 2022, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the figure does not include the agreement to build an RM19.6-billion integrated green steel project at the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park signed in November last year.
“With this green steel project and other investments in the process of implementation, Sabah will be receiving a total of RM33.4 billion,” he said when chairing a Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) meeting at the Shangri-La Rasa Ria resort here today.
Hajiji, who also chairs Sedia, said of the RM11.5 billion, RM9.2 billion involved foreign direct investments and another RM2.3 billion was from domestic investments.
Hajiji said 72.9% of the investments or RM8.4 billion were in the manufacturing sector; the primary sectors comprising agriculture, mining, commodities, and plantations (RM1.6 billion); and the services sector (RM1.5 billion).
“These investments were (through) the cumulative efforts of the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, state Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Ministry, Sedia, and other related agencies,” he said.
Hajiji also said he wanted all applications and implementation of projects under the Sabah Development Corridor to be better coordinated with set timelines and compliance with all procedures.
He added that the state government also welcomed the People’s Income Initiative (IPR) launched by the Economy Ministry on February 26, which will help to lessen the people’s burden – especially the hardcore poor and B40 – through programmes such as Inisiatif Usahawan Tani (Intan), Inisiatif Usahawan Makanan (Insan), and Inisiatif Operator Perkhidmatan (Ikhsan).
Earlier, Warisan supreme council member Justin Wong accused Hajiji of inflating the number of investments Sabah received in 2022 by declaring a total of RM33 billion in investments.
The figure was reportedly contrary to the RM11.5 bil announced by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz for the same period.
Hajiji later broke fast with Sedia board members, as well as 100 orphans and students from four homes and tahfiz centres in Tuaran, namely HOME Tuaran, Maahad Tahfiz Assohabah, Tarbiyatun Nisa, and Pusat Tahfiz Al-Quran Ash-Shabab Al-Mardhiyah.
Also present were state Secretary Datuk Seri Haji Safar Untong; federal Economy Ministry Chief Secretary Datuk Nor Azmie Diron; Sabah Attorney-General Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof; state Finance Ministry Permanent Secretary Datuk Mohd Sofian Alfian Nair; Sedia chief executive Datuk Seri Hashim Paijan; heads of departments; and Sedia board members. – The Vibes, April 3, 2023
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