KOTA KINABALU – Sabah will introduce its own Sabah Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) initiative to woo more talents and expertise for the state’s development, said Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
The chief minister said that the SMM2H scheme has been fine-tuned to make it attractive to foreigners wishing to move into Sabah.
“The influx of talent and expertise will benefit us, especially for our Sabah Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) programme that will be tabled in the state assembly soon.
“We hope to see more high-value talents, including from South Korea, moving to Sabah,” he said at the opening of the Republic of Korea Consulate in Kota Kinabalu at Plaza Shell today.
The next Sabah assembly sitting is scheduled in November, where the chief minister is expected to also table the state budget.
Hajiji said the setting up of the Korean consulate here was a significant step in the expansion of South Korea’s diplomatic and consular network.
Trade relations between Sabah and South Korea have grown steadily, with Sabah’s trade export to South Korea registered at RM4 billion and Sabah’s imports from South Korea at RM900 million last year.
“The crowning jewel of this to date is, of course, South Korea’s RM4.2 billion SK Nexilis copper foil manufacturing project, one of Sabah’s largest foreign investments,” he said.
Hajiji also pointed out South Koreans have become a major contributor to Sabah’s tourism, with arrivals recorded at 95,966 from January to June.
“As of September, Sabah is connected to two South Korean cities – Incheon and Busan – with 23 flights and 4,409 seat capacity weekly.
“I am pleased that Sabah continues to be a sought-after destination for South Koreans,” he said.
Also present were Deputy Chief Ministers Datuk Seri Joachim Gunsalam, Datuk Shahelmey Yahya, South Korean ambassador to Malaysia Yeo Seung-bae, and senior Korean embassy officials.
Meanwhile, Yeo said the Korean community in Sabah has been longing for the establishment of the consulate office since 2010, adding that the opening of the office today here could further strengthen relations between Korea and Sabah.
“I am convinced that the opening of the Korean consulate in Kota Kinabalu today will add new impetus to more economic cooperation as well as people to people and cultural exchanges between Korea and Sabah, and Malaysia.
“I sincerely hope and expect that the consulate will function as an outpost, helping to pave the way for further progress in Korea-Sabah relations in the future,” he said. – The Vibes, September 26, 2023
