Bung Moktar
KOTA KINABALU: The State Cabinet has agreed to the formation of the Sandakan Economic Development and Investment Committee (SEDIC) which will boost Sandakan’s move into becoming the second city in Sabah.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin said the committee will play a role in the planning and implementing of a more systematic and viable development program for Sandakan.
Bung said the development in Sandakan will continue to be driven by key economic clusters such as tourism, agriculture-based business industry and human capital development.
“The function of this committee is to collect information and assist the state government in the economic development and investment planning in Sandakan in line with efforts to become a city and achieve the objectives of the Sabah Maju Jaya halatuju,” he said when met after chairing the committee’s first meeting here on Tuesday.
The meeting was also attended by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Arifin, Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Mohamad Hamsan Awang Supain, government elected representatives, Sandakan Municipal Council Deputy President I Faridah Giau and Deputy President II Harun Arifin.
Bung, who is also Works Minister, added that among the committee’s functions is to recommend to the state government all potential development projects for economic growth as well as investment opportunities to be included in Sandakan’s economic development planning.
Sandakan, he said, has much potential that can be developed among which is its biodiversity that can be a tourism attraction.
By ensuring that there are proper road links and stable water as well as electricity supply, Sandakan can attract more visitors and investors to the district, the Lamag assemblyman opined.
“Therefore, the committee formed also plays a role in encouraging and marketing the development of Sandakan as an attractive business and investment location as well as empowering other districts outside the Municipal Council such as Beluran, Kinabatangan and Tongod,” said Bung Moktar who is also Kinabatangan Member of Parliament.
He added that the relocation of the Indonesian capital from Jakarta to Kalimantan will definitely have a positive impact to Sabah, especially Sandakan’s economic growth.
Bung Moktar pointed out that the relocation would see many developments implemented in Kalimantan, including infrastructure development.
“Therefore our close proximity to Kalimantan helps in terms of supplying them with basic neccesities such as electricity supply. At the same time we can provide something that can attract them to visit Sandakan and this will certainly have a positive impact in terms of economic returns to the people in the district,” he said.