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KK’s potential has not been fully tapped
Published on: Sunday, August 23, 2020
By: John Lo
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Kota Kinabalu, as Sabah’s capital city, has a lot of economic potential that is under realised, or untapped. Harnessing them the right way can give KK much more economic business/employment opportunities. What is needed is some focused attention from decision makers on formatting policies and implementation. The beauty is with the right policies and effective implementation, the government needs not spend too much. The private sector, particularly the young generations, seeing opportunities, will sieze the challenges and invest. At the end of the day, we will have a more vibrant KK than now.

KK can be Sabah’s economic growth engine.

Sabah leaders have been economically locked down in a deep well and could not see beyond exploitation of natural resource-based business and low value tourism. With pointed planning, KK can be Sabah’s economic growth engine like many capital cities, London, Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Taipei and Auckland. All of them are growth centres in their own rights, generating tremendous wealth, employment, business activities and attracting investments. For example, Auckland produces 38pc of NZ’s GDP. Tokyo’s GDP’s USD826.20 billion is equivalent to Netherland in 2016.

Data, if available, will show KK’s GDP, despite its numerous economic potentials, is negligible compared to Sabah’s GDP.

The way to go about it is unlocking the untapped potentials of value-added components in existing economic activities and seeking out new ones from untapped KK’s assets.

KK’s geographical position.

Look at the map. What is striking? KK is by far the most vibrant city on the Borneo Island, surpassing Kuching and other Indonesian cities until new Jakarta begins to develop. It is the nearest city on Borneo Island to North Asia where booming economies [before Covid-19] of China, South Korea, Taiwan and Japan. 

Most importantly, KK is facing the South China Sea. Two factors here. Some USD3 trillion of trade flow through South China Sea. All ships by pass KK and Sabah. Also, in the near term, there will be a hive of exploration and related up and down stream of oil and gas, especially on Spratly Islands where Malaysia has also laid claim to a few islands.

Tapping into KK’s geographical economic potentials have been very much, neglected. The prospects are exciting. Realising them will require long term strategic planning which is non-existent now. 

KK has lots of underutilised assets now.

In the last 15 years, KK has been transformed into an impressive city. KKIA is the gateway to Borneo and the 2nd busiest airport after KLIA, vastly improved air connectivity with more than 200 direct flights per week from China, South Korea and other regional cities. Talks between China and Sabah on increasing tourist arrivals by additional 1 million were afoot in 2017. Hence the hotel construction boom with a number of international brands coming in for the first time. 

Some hotels have been completed while others are under construction. SICC was conceived and now completed. With proper marketing plans and sufficient promotion funds, it will bring in high value MICE tourists. 

SICC is the biggest convention/exhibition building on Borneo Island with capacity for 7,000 pax. Plan of Sabah’s very own “gold coast” from Tuaran to Kota Belud has also been completed.

KK has lots of natural assets like the sea, beaches, islands and its proximity Mount Kinabalu and nature reserves. Very importantly, KK is a food paradise from bak kuet teh to sea food, from Tuaran mee to nasi lemak, from hawker stalls to 5-star fine dining. Mau sang wang and an abundance of variety of tropical exotic fruits, planted some years ago, have begun fruiting. 

As certain as I can be that if we can try harder, we can discover a lot of more hidden assets and stimulating ideas for new business. For new business, we should provide the necessary policy incentives for gen x and gen y. They will know how to go about it. The future is theirs.

KK has signed a number of sister city agreements, all of which are gathering dust. No efforts/results are visible out of these agreements. Close liaison with any or all these cities can yield substantial economic benefits. Penang is clever in squeezing benefits out of sister city relationships. 

Gaya Street Sunday market which Tan Sri Harris started has lots of potential to morph into more exciting things. Some exciting innovative ideas will transform this place into an exciting activity place. 

But no one is willing to crack his/her brain on adding values on these and many other things. Too many self-centred politicians, excessive politicking and obsession with self-interest have sacrificed public good and economic progress of KK.

Debunking “No fund” means no economic development. 

KK Voters, please do not accept this “no fund” nonsense excuse for no economic development from politicians. Money is not everything. In fact, when there is money, greedy hands can’t keep away. Superior than funds are good policies, honesty and dedication. The private sector will invest in respond to good policies. In fact, all the progressive countries like Singapore, China, Taiwan and South Korea have been transformed, not so much by money as good policies that can spur and encourage people to transform their respective economies. 

Not much brain, only genuine/serious intention is required to transform KK’s economy. True. So much potential in value-added business and producing new ones. Most of KK’s economic problems and unrealised potentials, like many of Sabah’s, are not overly complicated. 

In fact, some of them are really quite simple. What KK needs is some one who knows what a good economic plan is, level headed NOT one who is too busy playing politics, to show the way. Someone who can identify the potentials and organise ways, means and recommend policies for the government of the day to act on them. We don’t want a full-blooded politician for it is not a political problem, lack of economic leadership is the problem. 

The same one that has plagued Sabah for more than 30years. We have enough of main stream politicians. Needed is brain to produce business/economic solutions, a person with dedication and guts to chase the economic dream for the citizens of Kota Kinabalu. Is there such a person who can think beyond party/selfish politics and is willing to offer himself/herself in the coming election? Hopefully. 

The Api Api voters, please look out for such a candidate.

Aerial view of part of the state capital - credit: theedgemarkets. 

 



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