‘Call for Labuan’s return to Sabah shows frustration over poor development’

KOTA KINABALU – A Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS) leader has called for a revision of Labuan’s administrative status after the federal government failed to develop the territory on par with Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.  

PBS vice-president Datuk Peter Mak said it is time to revisit the administrative status of Labuan, including options to return the territory to Sabah and develop it as a Special Development Zone that comes with specific legislative privileges, taking into consideration the island’s important economic contributions to the oil and gas industry. 

He said Labuan MP Datuk Suhaili Abdul Rahman’s recent call for the island to be returned to Sabah is a manifestation of the frustration felt by the people of Labuan over slow development since it was federalised in 1984.  

“After almost 40 years as a federal territory, there is still a long way (to go) for Labuan to enjoy the development bestowed upon its two sister federal territories namely, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya. 

“To aggravate matters, retrogressive laws and actions which do not benefit or are disadvantageous to the island have been put in place, such as the imposition of duty for tobacco products and restrictive visa-on-arrival for foreign tourists visiting Labuan,” Mak said in a statement today.  

He said at the same time basic infrastructure and amenities – like ample, clean, and efficient water supply and the proposed bridge linking the island to mainland Sabah – are not seeing the light of day. 

“There is no concrete development plan being executed for the island, with the Labuan Development Blueprint 2030 seemingly being ‘swept under the carpet,’” he added.  

Mak said while it is unfair to say that Labuan has not developed at all under the federal government, much more remains to be done. 

Notwithstanding the present situation, the people of Labuan should be accorded the right to choose whether they wish to return to Sabah or remain as a federal territory, unlike the arbitrary decision taken 40 years ago, he said. – The Vibes, January 29, 2023