Published on: Saturday, July 25, 2009 |
Former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Haji Ahmad Badawi, during his visit here, said with such efforts on the constant promotion of the "Land Below the Wind", would ensure Sabah will always be a destination for visitors.
"Your (State Government) step in protecting such resources will further enhance Sabah in the eyes of the world," he said at a dinner held at the Promenade Hotel here in the presence of numerous State and district leaders, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Haji Aman.
Badawi in his speech also touched on the potential of the State to utilise other resources available to further develop the State and the current state leadership could make this possible through a strong collaboration.
"If we can come to terms with each other, then we grow from strength to strength to make things possible," he added.
He also had praises for the leadership of the State for their full co-operation given to him during his tenure as Deputy Prime Minister and later as Prime Minister.
Musa, in his speech, hailed Badawi for his dedication in helping Sabah, resulting in the State getting the second largest budget in the whole country.
"With such a budget, we not only developed urban but rural areas as well," he said.
He also said Badawi was serious about human capital and other commitments during his tenure, adding with his retirement, he could now see the State better during his tour here.
Musa also said Banggi Island, which received a large boost with RM167 million being spent there to build infrastructures, had brought a better living standard for people on the island.
In SEMPORNA, Abdullah suggested that Sabah set up a research and development (R&D) institute specially to study seaweed.
He said that with such a facility the potential of the seaweed in terms of production and processing of the end products could be expanded.
There should be R&D and a research body to focus on ways to improve the quality of the seaweed and to come up with more products.
"We need to have all the skills to augment the incomes of the people involved in the industry," he said after visiting the seaweed culture centre in Look Butun, Pulau Bum-Bum.
He was accompanied by his wife, Tun Jeane Abdullah, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman and Minister in the Chief Minister's Department Datuk Nasir Tun Sakaran on the visit to the project under the Sabah Rural Development Ministry.
Abdullah said the potential of seaweed in Sabah was bright in view of the high demand and the wide use of seaweed in food, drugs and pharmaceautical products.
He said seaweed culture did not need food or fertiliser and the people were lucky that Sabah, especially the waters of Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu, was suitable for seaweed culture.
The seaweed culture project in Look Butun, which had lifted about 80 participants above the poverty line, clearly showed that it was effective in overcoming hardcore poor problem, he said.
The project was started in 2001 and now each participant earns between RM1,000 and RM1,300 a month, depending on the price of the seaweed.
