KOTA KINABALU – Sabah governor Tun Juhar Mahiruddin has urged political leaders to set aside their differences and focus all their energy towards state development.
He said the state faces its most difficult time yet, with problems ranging from economic issues and Covid-19 to natural disasters, given the recently reported flooding.
Thanking state agencies for their role in dealing with all these challenges, Juhar said political fronts in Sabah should work together on the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah state government’s five-year Sabah Maju Jaya plan to yield the best results for the people.
“Moving forward, the state government will double its efforts in implementing capital-oriented and people-centric initiatives and programmes to spur sustainable economic development and improve the quality of life for Sabahans.
“I am confident all the initiatives to weather the state’s troubled economy due to the volatile global economy and Covid-19 pandemic will be successful, Insya Allah.
“The implementation of the 12th Malaysia Plan and Sabah Maju Jaya 1.0 this year will catalyse state development and progress,” he said during his address at the opening of the second session of the 16th Sabah state assembly sitting today.
Juhar said both the state and federal governments had launched several initiatives to deal with the pandemic and form an economic restoration plan.
The state government had launched the Sabah Economic Stimulus Package and the Bantuan Prihatin Covid-19, while the federal government had launched its Prihatin, Penjana, Permai, Pemerkasa, and Pemulih initiatives.
He expects these initiatives will hasten Sabah’s economic recovery, adding that the same results are expected in the five-year 12th Malaysia Plan and Sabah Maju Jaya 1.0 initiatives.
Juhar also expressed confidence in the Sabah Tourism Recovery Roadmap, a recovery initiative targeted at Sabah’s tourism sector.
“The tourism sector used to be one of the main contributors to Sabah’s economy but was severely affected by the pandemic.
“Tourist arrivals dropped 76.7% in 2020 as the number slid from 4.2 million tourists in 2019 to 977,460 in 2020,” said Juhar, adding that arrivals dropped by 85% in the first six months of 2021, from 736,921 in 2020 to 108,862 in 2021.
On agriculture, Juhar said he also expected results in the expansion of paddy planting in Sabah, with the state planning to expand cultivation ground to 26,300ha, and expecting a rice yield of 148,500 tonnes this year.
“For this purpose, 30% of padi seedlings from three producers will be supplied to farmers statewide,” he said.
Sabah also plans to open up six agriculture produce collection centres, with one each currently being built in Beaufort, Keningau, Kota Marudu, Kundasang, Telupid. and Lahad Datu.
On the same note, Juhar said numerous drainage and irrigation projects will be implemented under the 12th Malaysia Plan to improve agriculture produce and flood mitigation.
For industries, Juhar said the state will be implementing the “Buy Sabah Product” campaign this year to improve local businesses’ sales and exports.
Juhar said under the 12th Malaysia Plan, the state aims to upgrade and build 1,190km of roads, adding that surveying works and designs are currently ongoing.
On digitalisation, the state will increase the number of Very Small Aperture Terminal stations in the rural areas under the Jendela programme to achieve 90% 4G coverage in the state with the expected completion of projects by 2022.
He also said 662 units of affordable homes will be built under the 12th Malaysia Plan, with 502 units in Kinarut, Papar and 160 units in Tuaran. – The Vibes, September 21, 2021
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