style="text-transform: uppercase;">Kota Kinabalu: The Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KKCCCI) welcomes the Sabah Cabinet's decision to revive the two-year suspension of the barter trade between Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Tawau with the Philippines and Indonesia.Its Chairman Datuk Michael Lui said the move will boost economic activities in the State.

"KKCCCI believes that the revival of the suspensions would definitely ascertain more income so as not to undermine our economic growth," he said in a statement.

He said the KKCCCI is more concerned about the security factor since national and state Security council have set it as their priority to safeguard and ensure the security of the people.

"We see no reason to continue the suspension of the barter trade."

"KKCCCI reaffirms its support to the State Government in its uncompromising stand and firm commitment to protecting and preserving the safety of people. We stand together with the strong wills for not tolerating any border invasion activities to safeguard and uphold our rights."

"We must always ensure the stability of our regional economic growth and puts more efforts to fully support the strong willingness of our Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and his cabinet to revive the barter trade," he added.

In relation to this, the KKCCI he said would like to propose that the relevant authority must identify the landing ports, the proper setup of the barter trade structures and mechanism with control and strong enforcement.

He said there must be more stringent enforcement to prevent smuggling activities through unchartered routes.

He also said that the KKCCI agrees that cooking gas and cooking oil and other local subsidized items should be excluded from the barter trade activity.