Sabah to benefit from holistic development

Kota Kinabalu: The proposed Sabah Development Corridor would be holistic, covering all sectors of the economy and benefiting all segments of the community. Scehduled to be launched on Jan 29 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, the corridor is targeted to accelerate Sabah's economic growth through aggressive development of the tourism, agriculture and manufacturing sectors.

All projects would be inclusive and mindful of the participation of the local people.


Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman (right) and his deputies, Datuk Seri Joseph Pairin Kitingan (left) and Datuk Raymond Tan, showing the blueprint for the Sabah Development Corridor.

"The SDC will be holistic and encompass the whole of Sabah," Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman said after a state cabinet meeting to announce the date for the launch of the corridor.

The launching ceremony will be held at the Sepanggar Bay container port, 35km from here.
A brainchild of the prime minister, the SDC's primary objective is to narrow the economic disparity between Sabah and the other states.

This would be achieved through the promotion of a balanced economic growth and distribution by focusing on the reduction of income disparity and poverty and creation of employment opportunities.

Institute for Development Studies, Sabah executive director Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari said preserving the environment was another key emphasis of the SDC.

Implementation of projects would be on the basis of sustainable development to ensure that the environment was not affected.

The development corridor will also focus on capturing high value in the manufacturing industry through the promotion of downstream processing.

"Investors would be encouraged to go into downstream processing and add value to their products," Mohd Yaakub said.

Citing an example, he said investors in the agricultural sector would be encouraged to go into the processing of biomass.

Mohd Yaakub said an authority would be set up to oversee and ensure the successful and speedy implementation of projects under the development corridor that would cover a period from this year to 2025.

By New Straits Times (by Joniston Bangkuai)