Sabah FMM awaits KKIP land plea
Published on: Sunday, September 08, 2024
By: David Thien
“Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Sabah has submitted a list of members seeking industrial land at KKIP, proposing a land price of RM30 per square foot, to which we are currently awaiting a response from the Ministry,” James said.
Kota Kinabalu: FMM Sabah head James Ha said it has actively addressed numerous issues and challenges, besides proposing solutions to the State Government, the past 25 years.
These include matters related to water, electricity, roads, minimum wages, and the Sabah Labour Act amendments, including Housing Act.
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“We also raised concerns about the shortage of industrial land and the high cost of land, which remains a significant barrier,” he said, at the inaugural FMM Sabah Luncheon and Dialogue 2024 with State Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe.
“Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers Sabah has submitted a list of members seeking industrial land at KKIP, proposing a land price of RM30 per square foot, to which we are currently awaiting a response from the Ministry,” James said.
FMM is represented in several state government agencies such as in “Pemudacara SMJ”, in the Sabah Logistics Forum and in the Sabah Labour Advisory Council.
“Additionally, we have two representatives at the Federal level: Datin Rozilah in the Perkeso Board of Directors and Yap Cheen Boon in the Industrial Court Panel.
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“All have exemplified FMM’s role as the ‘Voice of Manufacturers’,” James said.
The FMM Sabah Branch was established in 1998 and has 60 manufacturing members.
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“The majority of our members produce food-based industry products, construction and building materials, plastic products, and electrical products.
“These products are suitable for foreign investors when investing in Sabah. For example, when setting up factories, investors can use products from our members, such as those offered by Roll Innovation Industries (M) Sdn Bhd, Asteel (Sabah) Sdn Bhd, and Steel Industries (Sabah) Sdn Bhd for construction needs.
“Additionally, Powerco Trading (Kota Kinabalu) Sdn Bhd is able to provide the necessary switchboards and control panels. These well-established companies, with years of experience, can deliver high-quality products at competitive prices. As a result, investors can focus on starting operations in an expedited manner.
“These are the strengths of our FMM members. In addition to attracting more foreign investment, it is crucial to promote Sabah-made products to further bolster our local economy.”
Manufacturing is fundamental in any modern economy, as it creates wealth, generates employment, and lays a strong foundation for future growth, James said.
“Manufacturing is a great creator of employment – even at 7 per cent of economic activity, it still manages to employ almost 13 per cent of Sabah’s labour force.
“According to the 2023 the Department of Statistics report, manufacturing is the second most productive sector after Oil & Gas, hence Sabah’s economy urgently needs more manufacturing activities to spur growth.”
The Sabah FMM head urged more business leaders and the younger generation in Sabah to explore opportunities in the manufacturing industry.
“While I recognise there are challenges such as issues with water, electricity, ports, roads, and other infrastructure, I believe these problems will be resolved in due time,” James said.
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