Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s economy registered encouraging growth with its Gross Domestic Product (total value of goods and services) increasing to RM83.2 billion in 2023 from RM82.1 billion in 2022, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
“This shows a momentum of continuous improvement and positive development in Sabah,” he said, adding it is in line with the national GDP which is expected to increase by 2.5 per cent through the Madani Economy Framework that saw the restructuring of Malaysia’s economy under the National 2025 Budget.
Chairing the State Development Action Council (MTNg) meeting at Menara Kinabalu, Tuesday, he attributed the achievement to co-operation from various quarters in the State.
“If we continue to contribute our energy positively through close cooperation, it is not impossible to successfully implement our Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya aspirations,” he said.
He urged relevant agencies to ensure all initiatives and programmes under the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP) and Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya development blueprint are implemented to spur economic growth and to lift the people’s livelihood.
Under the 13MP, the State Government has formulated a State Strategic Development Hala Tuju as a proactive step to spur Sabah’s economy and development from 2026 to 2030.
“It is also an early framework that takes into consideration the policy, blueprint and current development plan. Various initiatives will be initiated encompassing the Blue Economy initiative and each state development agenda under the 13MP,” he said. Despite the various successes, Hajiji said the State Government must not become complacent.
“We must continue to work hard and be more proactive. All State leadership, heads of department and heads at district-level must go down to the ground more frequently to monitor ongoing programme or project implementation.
“This is important to ensure all programmes are done well and thoroughly,” he said, adding that this year 1,265 projects and programmes must be completed in Sabah.
All the implementing agencies must constantly monitor these projects’ progress and ensure they are completed according to schedule, he said. Sabah is among the highest recipients of the national budget, with RM6.7 billion allocated by the Federal Government this year.
“This proves that the voices of the people and leaders of Sabah are heard. It also demonstrates we are very serious and will strive to boost the State’s development,” he said.
“We must do a paradigm shift to ensure the success of all our plans. We should do away with outdated processes and we must change attitudes that focus on the negatives without evaluating or crediting the successes or contributions made to the State,” he said.
