SANDAKAN: Tanjong Papat State Assemblyman Alex Thien Ching Qiang has encouraged locals to venture into seafood processing and downstream fisheries industries to make the most of Sandakan’s rich marine resources.
He believes such efforts can help build a distinctive Sabah-branded seafood product line and penetrate international markets.
He made these remarks following a meeting and exchange of views with the Sandakan Fisheries Department and several fellow Parti Warisan Assemblymen, including Elopura’s Calvin Chong Ket Kiun, Karamunting’s Alex Wong Tshun Khee, Sungai Sibuga’s Lisa Alban, as well as representatives from Gum-Gum and Sekong.
According to Alex, Sandakan possesses abundant marine fisheries resources that are highly suitable for downstream industry development. Local entrepreneurs are urged to tap into the various assistance schemes and development programmes offered by the Fisheries Department—including aquaculture projects, fisherfolk development, and product processing—to transform traditional fisheries into a more integrated value chain encompassing packaging, branding, and marketing, thereby adding value to seafood products.
He stressed that Sandakan has yet to establish a widely recognised seafood brand, both domestically and internationally. Drawing a comparison with Japan, which is famed for its premium crab and seafood products, he noted that Sandakan also boasts unique crab species and high‑quality marine produce that could be positioned as signature offerings.
Alex emphasised that the city should not merely export raw materials but instead develop a diverse range of downstream products—such as seafood‑based snacks, ready‑to‑eat items, frozen seafood, flavoured seafood products, and seafood‑themed souvenirs—through strategic branding and commercialisation to boost competitiveness.
He also encouraged young people and local entrepreneurs to seize opportunities offered by the Fisheries Department’s support programmes, particularly in processing, aquaculture, and related industries, to open up new growth avenues for Sandakan’s fisheries sector.
Beyond downstream fisheries, Alex sees significant potential in sea‑based tourism and industrial experience tourism. Processing plants, aquaculture centres, and other fisheries facilities could be opened to visitors, while technical training courses and industry study tours could be organised. Such initiatives would not only promote Sandakan’s seafood brand but also invigorate the tourism sector and create win‑win synergies between the fisheries and tourism industries. – James Leong
Alex Thien (3rd left, front row), with party colleagues and Sandakan Fisheries Officer Melvin John Kinsuat (centre, front row).
