KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor has directed the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) to take the lead in developing Sabah’s side of the Malaysia – Indonesia regional border development.
This involves a road construction connecting the borders of Serudong in Kalabakan Tawau to Simanggaris in Indonesia following the Federal government’s nod to Sabah’s proposal to build a road into Kalimantan.
Chairing the Sedia board of directors meeting at the State Administrative Centre near here Thursday, Hajiji who is also Finance Minister said the approval was conveyed to him by the Economic Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed during a video conference discussion early this month.
Costing some RM600 million, the project is inclusive of the construction of the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security (CIQS) Complex at the entry point in Serudong/Simanggaris to check all cross border crossings.
“We must do all the necessary and put actions in place in anticipation of Indonesia moving its capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan,” Hajiji said adding that it was imperative for Sedia to play a major role in the realisation of the project.
“I wish to reiterate that Sedia need to continously play an active role in the planning and implementation of high-impact projects as well as to attract more investors into the state,” he said.
On another note, Hajiji hoped Sedia board members would scrutinise and provide their feedbacks on the Strategic Review of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) Blueprint 2.0 that would be tabled during the meeting.
At the meeting, Sedia also seek the endorsement of the proposed Sepangar Bay Container Port (SBCP) expansion before its submission to the Prime Minister’s Department and subsequently for approval from the Federal Finance Ministry.
“The SBCP expansion development is important because it will be a game changer for trade and businesses in this region, especially if SBCP can be transformed into a transhipment hub for this part of the world,” he said.
Also being discussed was Sawit Kinabalu Farm Product Sdn Bhd’s decision to set up its Premium Kinabalu Beef and edible bird nest production plant at the Sabah Agro-Industrial Precinct (SAIP) in Kimanis.
Hajiji said the company, which is a subsidiary of Sawit Kinabalu, would be putting in a RM4 million investment in SAIP that is expected to create 500 job opportunities as well as economic spin-offs, particularly in the upstream industry.
Earlier, he welcomed two new board members namely State Attorney-General, Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof and Kota Kinabalu City Mayor Noorliza Awang Alip.
Present at the meeting were Deputy Chief Minister cum Works Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin and State Secretary Datuk Seri Sr Safar Untong.
After the meeting Hajiji witnessed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between Sedia and Sawit Kinabalu for the setting up of the beef and bird nest production plants in SAIP. -pr/BNN
