KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will step up investment, infrastructure and social development under a wide-ranging roadmap outlined by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman in his maiden address to the state assembly.
Musa called for broad support in advancing the final phase of the 12th Malaysia Plan and the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan.
“We are at the tail-end of two important development blueprints. Let us ensure that each initiative is delivered effectively for the benefit of the people,” he said when delivering the government’s policy speech at the opening of the fifth session of the 16th Sabah state legislative assembly yesterday.
Sabah recorded RM6.5bil in investments last year, with 38.7% of it in manufacturing.
To sustain this momentum, new industrial parks will be developed in Kudat, Kota Belud and Beaufort to boost job creation and economic activities.
Food security remains a priority, with efforts to raise rice self- sufficiency to 60% by 2030 and promote the cultivation of high- value crops such as avocados, Musang King durian and MD2 pineapples.
Livestock self-sufficiency improved from 2.94% in 2021 to 9.33% in 2024, with a target of 25% by 2030.
Tourism also saw strong performance, attracting 3.1 million visitor arrivals in 2024 and generating RM7.28bil in spending.
The target for this year is 3.5 million visitors, supported by RM572.3mil in federal funding to upgrade the Kota Kinabalu and Tawau airports, Musa said.
“We must continue improving infrastructure and cleanliness at tourist destinations to support this momentum,” he added.
The state is also accelerating the 706km Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1 project, scheduled for completion by 2029, while long-term water supply issue will be addressed through the Ulu Padas scheme, which will be integrated with the Upper Padas hydroelectric project.
Sabah is also aiming for 50% renewable energy in its grid by 2035 and preparing for carbon neutrality by 2050.
“We must be bold in pursuing clean energy. Sabah has the resources, the will and the responsibility to transition to a low-carbon future,” said Musa.
In education, RM42.14mil in aid has been channelled to over 60,000 students, while efforts to reduce hardcore poverty have seen 22,510 households removed from the poverty list as of July 2024.
Other social initiatives include the opening of the Sabah Autism Centre, increased welfare support for NGOs and plans to gazette 30% of the state as Totally Protected Areas by year-end, up from the current 27%.
To modernise governance, Sabah will roll out the Digital Government Innovation plan, which includes the integration of artificial intelligence to improve public service delivery.
In land administration, 7,500 Native Title lots are set to be surveyed and 80 native village reserves gazetted in 2025.
Musa commended the state’s revenue performance, which reached RM6.842bil in 2024, along with the state’s clean audit record maintained for 22 consecutive years.
Looking ahead to the 13th Malaysia Plan, he urged state ministries and departments to prioritise programmes that reflect the people’s needs.
“I believe that with the cooperation of all parties, we can lay a strong foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth,” he said.
