SEMPORNA: Comprehensive planning, including upgrading existing facilities, needs to be implemented to transform Semporna into a premier tourism district, while further expanding its potential in the blue economy sector.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said the district is special 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 possesses strong fisheries and marine activity potential that can be further developed through the exploration of the blue economy sector, which is expected to generate significant returns for the people and the State.
“Semporna is not only about tourism, but its fisheries and marine resources are also truly outstanding. 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 great tourism district because it is home to Sipadan Island and other islands that are widely recognised,” he told reporters after attending a district development briefing during his visit to Mataking Island here on Thursday.
The visit to the island was held in conjunction with the Chief Minister’s Security Inspection Visit to the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESS Zone), which began in Sandakan on Tuesday, continued to Lahad Datu on Wednesday and concluded in Semporna on Thursday.
Hajiji said if properly preserved, Semporna’s tourism sector could become an invaluable treasure not only for Sabah, but for Malaysia as a whole.
“We need to do our best to further improve the facilities and whatever else is needed 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, the Chief Minister said development of the sector 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 hopefully it will become an economic activity that can enhance the State’s 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 previously, were aimed at personally assessing the security situation, especially on the 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 on the three districts visited throughout the tour.
Meanwhile, Hajiji also visited Sipadan Island and received a short briefing from Sabah Parks regarding developments on the island, followed by the groundbreaking ceremony for a security post on Ligitan Island.-pr/BNN
