SANDAKAN – Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Md Noor today ended his two-day visit here by announcing a RM4.26 million allocation to improve facilities in the district.
It is his first visit since taking office, and among his first events was launching the International Day of the Forests at the Forestry Department headquarters.
Hajiji said the department should enhance research and development on new sources of revenue from forests.
“Fresh sources of revenue can be derived from ecotourism activities, ecosystem services, mangroves and fisheries, carbon transaction, non-timber sources such as herbs, and the pharmaceutical industry.”
He visited the Sandakan Central Market, which he launched in 2007 in his capacity as state local government and housing minister.
This time around, he announced a RM1.26 million allocation to repair and upgrade the market.
He announced RM1.4 million and RM1.6 million to upgrade car parks at Duchess of Kent Hospital (HDOK) and Kg Sim-Sim, respectively.
This is big news for Sandakan folk, as HDOK, the district’s sole hospital, has had insufficient parking space for years.
Kg Sim-Sim, comprising rows of water villages, has also long dealt with the problem, with residents forced to park their vehicles by the roadside.
Hajiji told the press that his administration will maintain the log export ban imposed by the previous Parti Warisan Sabah-led state government in 2018.
The ban will be lifted should there be a need, he said, but the state government will consider the matter on a case-by-case basis, with priority accorded to factories with enough logs.
At a dinner function, he called on Sabah Bersatu grassroots leaders to work with Umno’s state chapter, and for them to give full support to Gabungan Rakyat Sabah candidates come the 15th general election.
The state Bersatu’s main focus at present is to fulfil its manifesto and promises made to the people ahead of the Sabah election last September, he said.
“We pleaded for the people’s votes with these promises. Now that they have cast their votes for us, it is time to fulfil our promises.”
This morning, Hajiji met the Malaysian Pineapple Industry Board chairman and board members, and agreed to set up a board aimed at expanding pineapple farming in the state by growing high-grade fruits. –The Vibes, April 9, 2021
