The development agenda of the SMJ direction shows positive results

5 October 2024

KOTA KINABALU: The state development agenda based on the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) direction is now on the right track and has begun to show positive results, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.

He stated that after four years of leading the state, the government confidently continues to move forward in implementing the state’s direction with an emphasis on several key sectors, particularly agriculture, industry, and tourism.

He noted that these three sectors have boosted the state’s economy, attracting investors to Sabah and creating thousands of job opportunities for locals.

Additionally, he mentioned that the government is also focusing on human capital development and enhancing the well-being of the people.

“With the support of the state cabinet, all plans and policies can be implemented, in line with the SMJ direction which serves as the foundation for the progress and development of the state of Sabah,” he said.

He made these remarks during a speech expressing gratitude at the Ceremony of Bestowing State Honors, Medals, and Decorations in conjunction with the 71st Official Birthday of the Governor of Sabah at the Seri Kinabalu Palace in Kota Kinabalu on Saturday.

Hajiji stated that based on statistics from the Department of Statistics Malaysia in July, Sabah contributed 5.5 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2023.

He noted that Sabah received investments amounting to RM11.34 billion, ranking seventh highest in Malaysia, with 13.3 percent coming from the manufacturing sector last year.

He also mentioned that the number of tourists visiting Sabah is increasing, with 1.7 million tourists recorded from January to July 2024, including over 1.05 million local tourists and 706,383 international tourists.

“This development clearly shows that the tourism sector in Sabah continues to demonstrate strong growth this year and, in the future, aiming to reach a target of 3 million tourists to Sabah this year,” he said.

He acknowledged that despite the achievements over the past four years of governance and the implementation of the SMJ direction for more than three years since its launch in March 2021, there is still much more for the government to accomplish.

He emphasised that the state government remains committed to further enhancing state development and the well-being of the people through the implementation of various programs and initiatives across multiple sectors.

According to him, the state government is exploring the potential of the Blue Economy, which involves the exploration of marine resources as a new economic source and other industrial products that can be derived from it.

“The state of Sabah, surrounded by the South China Sea, Sulu Sea, and Celebes Sea, has high potential for exploration and development of the Blue Economy. To realise this effort, the government will organise an international seminar on ‘The Blue Economy’ this month,” he asserted.

Hajiji believes that the people are wise enough to assess the factual achievements of the government today, which is responsible not only for thinking and planning but also for implementing many development agendas to assist the people.