By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Government has laid solid foundations for the state’s vision and roadmaps towards robust economic development, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said over the last five years, the government has invited investors to leverage the state’s natural resources to improve the people’s livelihood.
“Our riches are abundant — from minerals such as gold, copper and silica, to palm oil, cocoa and multiple energy resources including crude petroleum, gas, hydroelectricity, coal and more.
“Our oceans are rich in seafood and thermal energy, while we continue conserving our untouched coral reefs,” he said at the International Business Review (IBR) ASEAN Awards at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) yesterday.
Hajiji’s speech was read by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
He said Sabah has acquired more stakes and say in the oil and gas industry through the commercial collaborative agreement with Petronas.
“We now have 50 per cent equity in the Samarang oil and gas field, 25 per cent equity in Samur, and on 17 July 2025, we signed an agreement with Petronas to acquire a 25 per cent equity in the USD3.1 billion floating liquefied natural gas (ZLNG), also known as PFLNG 3, a shore-based LNG investment in Sipitang,” he said.
“Sabah recorded RM17.41 billion from 73 companies in overall approved foreign and domestic investments in the manufacturing sector since September 2020.
“Of these companies, 52 have already set up businesses in the state with a total investment of RM7.8 billion, creating 3,636 jobs,” he said.
Between 2022 and 2024, he said Sabah received new investment proposals worth an additional RM42.3 billion, creating 32,996 jobs.
He said the three-phase RM31 billion Esteel Enterprise Sabah Sdn Bhd project launched in June this year is set to create a ripple effect beyond green technology, to spur innovation and drive benefits for businesses and communities in Sabah.
Hajiji said high demand from investors has prompted the government to approve three new industrial parks in Kota Belud, Beaufort and Kudat under the Blue Economy Industrial Park.
“Sabah will always remain investor-friendly by implementing policies to attract more investors here.
“We welcome more direct connectivity so that investors, tourists and business travellers have easy access to Sabah.
“AirAsia’s new Kota Kinabalu–Taipei–Fukuoka route is one example that would benefit both the tourism and investment sectors,” he said.
Hajiji said the blue economy established in Kudat is set to be a gamechanger as it offers immense investment opportunities.
“This sector is estimated to yield 491,000 metric tonnes of marine harvests such as fish and prawns annually, valued at RM3.25 billion,” he said.
There are 14 components to be explored in the blue economy, such as renewable ocean energy, blue carbon, tourism, maritime transport and marine biotechnology, among others, he said.
He said investors can harness ocean energy through the Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC).
“OTEC power plants are now being planned along a 500 km stretch of coastline and can generate 20,000 MW of green energy,” he said.
For power supply, he said the government has launched the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 to generate 700 MW in the next two years to meet the needs of investors and citizens.
He said RM679.85 million has been allocated in 2024 to address immediate water shortages, and long-term plans include the completion of the Ulu Padas hydropower project, which has a daily release capacity of 6,000 million litres of water.
Hajiji said Sabah has also invested substantially in human capital development, with close to RM1 billion spent on education as well as various youth development programmes from 2021 to 2024.
Meanwhile, Sabah was named the Most Outstanding State in Malaysia for 2024 during the Asean IBR awards ceremony.
Masidi accepted the award presented by the chief judge of the panel, Datuk Seri Azman Ujang.
The recognition was based on the evaluation of a professional panel of judges comprising prominent figures from various sectors, supported by comprehensive assessment data provided by expert advisors.
