LAHAD DATU: Government agencies in Sabah stand to benefit significantly from enhanced communication channels between the state and federal governments.
“There is much to be gained through on-site visits and face-to-face interactions. This visit represents a new level of communication for POIC Sabah as we move forward,” stated Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee, Chairman of state-owned POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, the developer of the POIC Lahad Datu industrial park.
He made these remarks while welcoming the delegation from the Special Select Committee on Finance and Economy during their inaugural visit to POIC Lahad Datu.
The committee, established in 2023 under the Office of the Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, is responsible for overseeing key components of national development, including the Ministry of Finance, the Economic Planning Unit, agencies under the Prime Minister’s Department, and the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI). It is supported by an advisory board comprising 15 economists from both public and private higher education institutions.
Among the delegation was Tuaran Member of Parliament (MP) Datuk Seri Panglima Wilfred Madius Tangau, a former federal minister. The committee’s itinerary includes a visit to East Kalimantan, where the USD 32 billion development of the new Indonesian capital, Nusantara, is anticipated to have significant ripple effects on surrounding regions.
Datuk Yong expressed optimism that the establishment of this high-level committee would help mitigate delays in funding approvals for Sabah projects, facilitating timely implementation.
He also informed the visitors that the eventual size of POIC Lahad Datu, which will span approximately 7,725 acres, represents the largest development within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) where POIC Lahad Datu aims to establish itself as a logistics hub.
POIC Lahad Datu plays a crucial role in Sabah’s industrial ambitions, capitalising on its strategic location within BIMP-EAGA, a region rich in marine resources, crude palm oil, minerals, and oil and gas. Addressing concerns regarding security in Eastern Sabah, which some countries have cited as a potential investment risk, Yong noted that there have been no border incidents in the past five years.
Delegation leader Dato’ Indera Mohd Shahar Abdullah, MP for Paya Besar, emphasised that the committee’s mission was to gain a deeper understanding of POIC Lahad Datu’s strategic importance to Sabah’s development, particularly in light of significant regional growth, including the new Indonesian capital.
POIC Sabah Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lynette Hoo highlighted the potential of POIC Lahad Datu as a gateway to the expansive and resource-rich East ASEAN territories, which extend from Borneo eastward to Sulawesi, Irian Jaya, and the Southern Philippines. The visit also included members of the POIC Board of Directors, representatives from the Industry Section of the Ministry of Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship (MIDE), and department heads from various agencies, including ESSCOM, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living , the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Fisheries, and the Department of Veterinary Services of Sabah.-pr/BNN
