KALABAKAN: The Sabah Government is expected to receive a 40 per cent stake in the floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) facility project in Sabah under an agreement to be signed with PETRONAS soon.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor shared this latest development, describing it as one of the significant achievements resulting from the close cooperation between the State and Federal governments.
He said the milestone was also made possible through the cooperation agreement previously signed with PETRONAS, which enables the Sabah Government to participate actively in the state’s oil and gas industry.
He added that the state government would also receive a 20 per cent stake in projects undertaken by PETRONAS at newly discovered oil and gas fields off the coast of Sandakan.
“We have successfully reached an agreement with PETRONAS, and in the near future, perhaps within the next few months, we will sign an agreement under which Sabah will receive a 40 per cent stake in the floating gas project in the state.
“In Sandakan, PETRONAS has secured an oil and gas field, and Sabah will receive a 20 per cent stake there,” he said when officiating the Kalabakan Parliamentary
Constituency Jelajah Rakyat Programme and MADANI Rahmah Sales Programme at the Kalabakan District Office Open Hall here today.
Earlier, he he was briefed on Kalabakan’s development by Kalabakan District Officer Murad Abdul Rashid at the Kalabakan District Office.
Also present were Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali; State Minister of Youth, Sports Development and Creative Economy Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan; State Secretary Datuk Zainudin Aman; Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Ceasar Mandela Malakun; Assistant Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Dr Andi Md Shamsureezal Mohd Sainal; Assistant Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Datuk Jonnybone J. Kurum; and Kalabakan MP Datuk Andi Muhammad Suryady Bandy.
Hajiji said the people and the state stood to benefit greatly from the strong relationship between the State and Federal governments.
He said Sabah is also attracting increasing investor interest due to the state government’s investor-friendly policies, a fact acknowledged by foreign diplomats who have visited the state to explore its investment potential.
“Nearly 40 foreign diplomats or high commissioners have met with me over the past five years. They are attracted to our investor-friendly policies. They said these policies will propel Sabah towards a better future, and that is exactly what we are working to achieve,” he said.
He noted that existing industrial areas, particularly the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) and the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), are approaching full capacity due to strong investor support.
As a result, he said, the state government is expanding new industrial zones, including the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) on the east coast and industrial parks based on the Blue Economy.
On Kalabakan’s development, the Chief Minister said the state government remains committed to transforming the district through rapid and balanced development in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap, with economic growth and the people’s well- being continuing to be top priorities.
Among the key initiatives, he said, is the proposed development of the New Kalabakan Township covering approximately 1,000 acres, which is expected to become the district’s new growth centre through a range of planned developments.
“Once implemented, it will become the growth centre for the Kalabakan district, with various developments planned,” he said.
In addition to the new township, Hajiji said the government is also working to improve Kalabakan’s infrastructure, including roads and the construction of a Customs,Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex, which will serve as Sabah’s entry point from North Kalimantan, Indonesia.
He said his visit to Kalabakan today was also to personally review the district’s progress and ensure its people are not left behind in the government’s development efforts.-pr/BNN
