Hajiji and other guests posing with members of the public attending the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat Programme, Jom Malaysia Carnival, Rahmah MADANI Sale and Mobile Community Services for the Tanjong Kapor constituency at Dataran Tomborungus, Kudat, tonight.
KUDAT: Kudat has the potential to be developed into a regional Blue Economy Hub, leveraging its strategic location and rich marine resources, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Haji Hajiji Haji Noor.
He said the aspiration was being pursued through a proposed Blue Economy Industrial Park (BEIP), spearheaded by the Sabah Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) under the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK-13).
He said that, as an initial step, a master plan was being prepared for 1,205 acres of SEDCO-owned land in Kampung Limau-Limauan and Perapat Laut, while another 3,129 acres in Matunggung, Banggi and Tanjong Kapor had been identified as reserve areas for the project’s development.
“Based on the concepts of maritime development and green technology, the project focuses on the seafood industry, trade logistics and marine-based economic activities, including a proposed port to serve as a regional trade zone.
“Kudat’s location gives it an advantage in expanding trade links with markets in China, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines,” he said when officiating at the Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat Programme, Jom Malaysia Carnival, Rahmah MADANI Sale and Mobile Community Services (MCS) for the Tanjong Kapor constituency at Dataran Tomborungus here tonight.
Hajiji said strengthening the deep-sea fishing industry and upgrading traditional fishing platforms (bagang) along the coast were also being given attention to enable local communities to participate in the economic development.
He said the development would require policy support, funding and strong infrastructure through cooperation between the State and Federal Governments, with environmental sustainability and marine conservation remaining fundamental to its implementation.
He said Kudat was rich in natural beauty, cultural heritage and community creativity, reflected in local products, including handicrafts, agricultural and fishery produce, as well as tourism activities.
“Building on these strengths, we want the people of Kudat to have greater access to government services, entrepreneurial support and marketing opportunities to improve their well-being and income,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji welcomed the 2027 Budget presented by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Oct 9, with Sabah receiving RM18.7 billion in Federal allocations for next year, compared with RM17.6 billion this year.
He said the increase would provide important support for efforts to strengthen basic amenities, improve service delivery and lay the foundation for the state’s economic growth.
He said the 2027 Budget allocated RM3.3 billion for road development in Sabah and Sarawak, in addition to RM350 million for the maintenance of Federal roads, complementing efforts to address longstanding basic infrastructure issues, particularly roads, water and electricity.
Hajiji said the State Government was reviewing the people’s current needs, the state’s financial capacity and the continuity of development under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 Development Plan for 2026 to 2030.
He said Sabah’s revenue remained strong, with collections of RM6.96 billion in 2022, RM6.97 billion in 2023, RM6.87 billion in 2024 and RM6.76 billion in 2025, compared with about RM4 billion in 2019.
“Therefore, we will continue to improve revenue collection, diversify revenue sources and manage expenditure prudently to ensure the state’s finances remain strong. I am optimistic that state revenue in 2026 will exceed RM7 billion,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hajiji said the programme brought together four complementary components: Sentuhan Kasih Rakyat, the Jom Malaysia Carnival, the Rahmah MADANI Sale and MCS.
He said the programme addressed community welfare, expanded the promotion and marketing of local products, eased the cost of living and brought government services closer to the people.
He also urged entrepreneurs to make the most of the opportunities available to enhance their competitiveness, strengthen their branding and expand their respective product markets.
He further called on the public to support local products to help businesses grow, generate income and create employment opportunities for the people.
