KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat under the Chief Minister’s Department has received strong commendation from the business and industry community following the successful Forum and Townhall on the Direction of the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan (SMJ 2.0: 2026–2030), held in Tuaran today.
The half-day forum, supported by the Malaysia Digital Chamber of Commerce, the Malaysia Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, and the Special Task Force to Facilitate Business (PEMUDAH) – Financial Services Technical Working Group, brought together representatives from major industry associations, chambers of commerce, professional bodies, youth business leaders, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and policymakers.
Participants provided structured feedback on Sabah’s economic direction for the next five years, with key discussion areas including private sector competitiveness, youth entrepreneurship, venture capital and the digital economy, talent development, regulatory efficiency, and investment readiness under SMJ 2.0.
The open and consultative format of the townhall was widely welcomed, with industry leaders noting that it enabled frank, solution-focused dialogue between policymakers and the business community. Among the key issues raised were the need for stronger policy coordination between state agencies and industry, faster regulatory turnaround times for investors and SMEs, clearer implementation pathways for digital economy, innovation and youth entrepreneurship initiatives, and a more structured public–private collaboration mechanism to ensure continuity and accountability under SMJ 2.0.
The outcomes of the forum and townhall discussions will be documented and officially launched by the Chief Minister of Sabah on 30 January 2026. Business representatives stressed that while Sabah’s long-term vision is clear, the pace of execution and cross-agency alignment will be decisive in shaping outcomes over the next five years.
In response to the feedback received, the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat moved swiftly to initiate the formation of a dedicated Task Force Committee, signalling a strong commitment to action-oriented governance.
The Task Force will serve as a focused coordination platform to consolidate and prioritise key business and industry concerns, translate stakeholder feedback into actionable policy inputs for the implementation of SMJ 2.0, strengthen inter-agency coordination to reduce policy silos, and maintain continuous engagement with industry representatives throughout the 2026–2030 planning period.
Industry participants welcomed the prompt response as a positive signal of administrative agility and political will, noting that timely follow-through is critical to sustaining investor confidence and private sector participation.
The proactive stance adopted by the SMJ Secretariat was widely viewed as reinforcing trust between the state government and the business community, reflecting a more mature governance approach aligned with Sabah’s development ambitions.
The SMJ 2.0 Forum and Townhall reaffirmed the shared commitment of government and industry to work collaboratively towards building a resilient, competitive and inclusive Sabah economy, with the newly formed Task Force expected to play a key role in shaping development outcomes over the next five years.-BNN
