100 Filipino barter trade vessels ready to do business

Kota Kinabalu: The BIMP-EAGA Business Council Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao ( ARMM) said the forthcoming May 2019 national election will not in any way dither Filipino and Malaysian businessmen from actively participating in the cross-border trading once Sabah officially resumes its barter trade system."I am optimistic that the resumption of the barter trade activities between Sabah, southern Mindanao and Indonesia will be flooded with trading transactions," its country director Mohd Faisal Salam Jamalul said.

Chief Minister Datuk Mohd Shafie Apdal recently announced the resumption of barter trading from January.

" All our Tawi-Tawi Barter Trade Association members are eagerly waiting for the green light from the Sabah Government to jump start again the trading activities which are beneficial to both countries," he said, adding that the association is equipped with some 100 wooden barter trade vessels ready for deployment.

According to Faisal, the members are looking at products like rice, cooking oil, flour, processed noodles and canned goods, gasoline and diesel, lubricants including other diary items to buy from Sabah for the consumption of the people in the provinces of Tawi-Tawi, Sulu, Basilan and Zamboanga peninsula.

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Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government continued its momentum in managing the economy in line with the commitment and spirit of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) when it posted record high state revenue of RM6.973 billion last year.

"Sourcing out these basic commodities and items from our neighbour will greatly help alleviate the rising prices in our country, especially in southern Mindanao and nearby areas," he stressed.

Faisal said the association is closely working together with the relevant local authorities to ensure smuggling activities will be reduced to the maximum level if not totally eradicated.

"We will also continue to regularly be in contact with the Malaysian authorities and strictly comply with all their requirements to safeguard the interest and welfare of all the players of the industry both in the Philippines and Malaysia.

On security aspect, Faisal said the manifesto of crew of the vessel and list of goods will be stringently inspected by the authorities concerned before sealing clearance issued.

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"Filipino vessels will also be strictly subjected to stringent inspection from the Malaysian authorities upon arrival in Sabah...the manifesto of personnel and cargoes, including picture of the vessel, will be forwarded to the Malaysian authorities one day before the scheduled departure date of every vessel entering Sabah," he stressed.

Faisal with his officials together with Mindanao Development Authority Secretary Datu Abdul Khairul Dangcal Alonto paid a courtesy call on Shafie at the latter's office recently.

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