By WU VUIDE
SEMPORNA: Semporna needs comprehensive planning to transform it into a premier tourism hub within the Blue Economy sector, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji said the district is unique as it is home to world-renowned tourist destinations, particularly Sipadan Island, as well as other islands that continue to attract visitors.
He said Semporna also has strong fisheries and marine potential that can be further developed through the Blue Economy sector, which is expected to generate significant returns for the people and the state.
“Semporna is not only about tourism. Its fisheries and marine resources are also highly valuable.
“The District Officer, in his briefing, also outlined good plans for Semporna’s future, including maintaining cleanliness and improving facilities such as jetties on the islands and other amenities.
“All these aspects will be looked at comprehensively to ensure Semporna becomes a major tourism district, as it is home to Sipadan Island and other islands that are widely recognised,” he said after attending a district development briefing during his visit to Mataking Island.
The visit was held in conjunction with the Chief Minister’s security inspection tour of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).
Hajiji said that, if properly preserved, Semporna’s tourism sector could become an invaluable asset not only for Sabah but also for Malaysia.
“We need to do our best to further improve facilities and other requirements in this district in line with Semporna’s tourism development, as well as in Lahad Datu and Sandakan,” he said.
On the Blue Economy potential, he said the sector’s development has been outlined under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 blueprint as one of the initiatives to increase state revenue.
“We will explore Blue Economy resources over the next five years and hope it will become an economic activity that can enhance state revenue and benefit the local people,” he said.
Earlier, Hajiji said his visits to the cluster of islands around Semporna, as well as Sandakan and Lahad Datu, were aimed at personally assessing the security situation, particularly on islands along Sabah’s east coast.
He said he also wanted to inspect the condition of security control posts on the islands, in addition to receiving development briefings for the three districts visited during the tour.
Meanwhile, Hajiji also visited Sipadan Island, where he received a briefing from Sabah Parks on developments there, followed by the groundbreaking ceremony for a security post on Ligitan Island.
Hajiji visited Mataking Island in conjunction with the Security Inspection Visit Programme to the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone).
