Kota Kinabalu: The State Government has proposed to establish a sea linkage between Kudat and Palawan in the Philippines to revitalise the district's economy, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said the matter was discussed with Federal Transport Minister Anthony Loke who later toured Kudat with Kudat MP Datuk Verdon Bahanda.
"By establishing ferry services, barter trading at Kudat could be revived," he said at the Chief Minister's Department post-cabinet meeting at Menara Kinabalu, here, today, according to a statement.
Barter trade would help revive Kudat's sluggish economy, said Hajiji, adding that the Kudat port may also be a berthing point for ships sailing from southern Mindanao to Labuan.
"Presently, sea vessels carrying goods from Southern Mindanao go directly to Labuan. If we open up the Kudat port, we could tap into the Southern Mindanao-Labuan shipping centre route," he said.
According to him, the Kudat port would have all the necessary facilities, especially the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security checkpoints.
The Chief Minister said he has also discussed the matter with the State Police Commissioner to look into the security aspect for deliberations at the State Security Council.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said all State Government officers must fully understand the meaning of the "Sabah First" policy.
"Sabah First means we must prioritise Sabah’s interests in all our endeavours. Foreign and non-Sabah investors looking to set up business ventures here must have local Sabah interest holding a 30-percent stake in the venture,” he said.
Hajiji said the State Cabinet has also approved the Kota Kinabalu City Hall’s revised Sembulan Urban Renewal Scheme.
"We have agreed to allow landowners to stay there once the development is completed with agreed monetary compensation," he said.
The Chief Minister also announced that Sabah will host this year's Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew will co-chair the organising committee with Federal Minister of Communications Fahmi Fadzil.
