Kota Kinabalu: Sabah will be announcing a new strategic master plan for the state’s socio-economic development soon, Deputy Chief Minister Jeffrey Kitingan said.
He said the plan, to be unveiled by Chief Minister Hajiji Noor, is necessary even though the state is still plagued by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The ambitious plan will take into consideration the growth in technology and will aggressively develop infrastructure to digitalise Sabah, he said.
“We understand the people’s suffering and the government is doing its best to assist everybody, from all walks of life.
“However, at the same time, we cannot neglect our economy because once this is all over, we have to rebuild our lives and economy. We need to rise from the ashes of this war, the sooner, the better.
“Therefore, this new plan will concentrate on the government’s efforts to stimulate the economy. More importantly, it is to bring Sabah into the fourth industrial revolution with the introduction of 5G that is already at our doorstep,” he said in a statement here today.
Jeffrey, who is also the state agriculture and food industry minister, said the plan would be financed by sales tax from petroleum, which is expected to amount to at least RM800 million annually, as well as foreign investments.
“This means a deficit budget is unavoidable. We need to move and stimulate the economy, develop the state and prosper the people. Thus, an expansionary budget is necessary,” he said.
At the same time, he said, the state government would continue to pursue its financial rights under the Federal Constitution which stipulates that Sabah is entitled to 40% net revenue from revenues derived by the federal government from the state.
Additionally, he said, Sabah must be ready to take advantage of Indonesia’s new capital in Kalimantan and work with its neighbours to compete both nationally and regionally.
The previous Sabah strategic master plan was drafted in 2003 by the Barisan Nasional government led by former chief minister Musa Aman.
.jpg)
