KOTA KINABALU – The Sabah governor has reminded the state government to persevere with its demand for rights under the purview of the Malaysia Agreement 1963.
Tun Juhar Mahiruddin said that he expects the state will receive more from the special grant this year following a consensus reached in the state-federal revision under Article 112D of the federal constitution.
He added that several border towns will be developed in Tawau in view of the relocation of Indonesia’s capital city from Jakarta to East Kalimantan.
He also struck an optimistic note in his opening address at the state assembly today, saying recovery is expected this year in line with the country’s reopening of borders and economic sectors.
He said that programmes under the Sabah Maju Jaya Plan and the 12th Malaysia Plan, which is now in its second year, will be the growth catalysts.
“I am confident that Sabah can achieve better economic growth in 2022 as the national economy is also in the recovery mode.”
He noted Sabah’s success in achieving a record RM5.449 billion revenue collection in 2021 despite the economic challenges faced by the state due to Covid-19.
Juhar said this was the first time the state’s revenue collection surpassed the RM5 billion mark, exceeding the RM4.541 billion attained in 2014.
“In the effort to maintain this momentum, I urge all the revenue collection teams to play their roles more aggressively to ensure Sabah can achieve its revenue targets and keep the RM5 billion revenue collection figure.”
He added that Sabah received a RM4.47 billion injection from local and foreign investors in 2021, which he said would be able to generate 7,400 new jobs for locals.
He said the state will continue to explore the potential of new forestry revenue via eco-tourism. He stated that some 400,000ha will be established as a forest farm by 2035 and noted the development of the Sepanggar Container Port into a container hub.
The Sabah assembly is expected to begin its sitting next week from March 21 to 24. – The Vibes, March 16, 2022
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