Sabah among top six contributors to Malaysia's 2023 GDP

10 September 2024

KOTA KINABALU: Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor announced that Sabah's record revenue of RM7 billion last year positioned it among the top six states contributing to Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023.

He highlighted that data from the Statistics Department of Malaysia (DOSM) released in July indicated Sabah's contribution of 5.5 percent to the national GDP.

"Alongside Selangor, the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Johor, Sarawak, and Penang, we collectively contributed 73 percent to the national economy," he noted.

"Last year, we attracted RM11.34 billion in investments, ranking seventh in Malaysia, with 13.3 percent coming from the manufacturing sector," he stated at the Eighth World Engineering, Science and Technology Congress (ESTCON) held at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) today.

Organized by Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and PETRONAS, Sabah is hosting the Eighth World Engineering, Science and Technology Congress (ESTCON) for the first time, attracting over 1,000 participants from 25 countries.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor emphasized the need for quality tertiary education institutions in Sabah to provide excellent Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) qualifications. The State Government aims for at least 40 percent of school students to enroll in science streams by next year.

He stated that for the younger generation to lead the state’s future progress, collaborative efforts from the State Government and all stakeholders are essential to support youth development in every aspect.

"The state government recognizes the importance of quality tertiary education for our youth. In today’s world, where science and technology drive progress, a significant portion of Sabah’s student population must pursue STEM education," he said.

Hajiji noted that the State Science, Technology, and Innovation Ministry has implemented the 2022-2025 Strategic Plan to guide various programs and initiatives aimed at empowering the science, technology, innovation, and economy (STIE) ecosystem in Sabah.

Regarding digitalization initiatives, the Chief Minister outlined Sabah's vision for a thriving digital economy, focusing on accelerating digital transformation.

"In November of last year, we signed an agreement with Huawei Technologies Malaysia at their headquarters in Shenzhen, China, to empower our state and its citizens to harness the benefits of technological innovation, fostering economic growth and improving public services," he added.

This initiative will focus on agriculture, smart manufacturing under Industry 4.0, tourism, smart city planning, e-commerce, digital infrastructure, inclusive connectivity, and digital governance. "This collaborative effort will include the implementation of AI-ready and data-centric digital services for government, businesses, and the community," he stated.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor highlighted that under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya initiative, the State Government launched the Digital Internet of Things (IoT) Sandbox in 2022 as part of its development roadmap.

"It has provided a safe environment for digital entrepreneurs and innovators to create products and test their feasibility. We recognise the transformative potential of digital technology in sectors such as agriculture, mining, and tourism," he remarked.

Hajiji also noted that Sabah is making significant investments in the energy sector, encompassing traditional sources like fossil fuels and emerging renewable options such as solar and wind energy.

"By investing in the energy sector, we will ensure a reliable power supply while contributing to a more sustainable energy future. While oil and gas will continue to be important revenue streams for the state, our focus will shift towards renewables, including solar and storage technologies, hydro, geothermal, and carbon market opportunities in Sabah," he explained.

The Chief Minister assured that Sabah will continue to develop essential energy infrastructure and manage resources to sustain growth.

"The Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (Sabah Energy RAMP 2040), which I launched last year, will strategically guide our future. However, its success will depend on the full support of both public and private stakeholders to lead Sabah toward a greener, more sustainable future," he concluded.