KOTA KINABALU: Sabah has received investments of RM23.9 billion since the start of the 10th Malaysia Plan last year and until the first quarter of 2012.
Sabah Minister of Industrial Development Datuk Raymond Tan Shu Kiah said data from the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (Mida) showed that of this amount, RM12.4 billion or 53 per cent was domestic investments, and the remaining RM11.4 billion from overseas.
“The investments provided 14,674 job opportunities,” he added.
He said this in reply to a question from Samsudin Yahya (UMNO-Sekong) in the Sabah State Assembly here today. Tan said for the state, six National Key Economic Areas (NKEA) had been identified, namely, tourism, oil and gas, oil palm, manufacturing and logistics, agriculture and education.
He said apart from this, there were 31 Entry Point Projects (EPPs)identified to be implemented in Sabah, to raise the country’s income level and create widespread job opportunities in the state.
“The EPPs involve an investment in the oil and gas sector of RM18.72 billion.
The Gross National Income (GNI) for the country is expected to be RM12.8 billion, while providing about 23,119 jobs.
“Seven EPPs have been identified for the oil and gas sector in Sabah, including the Sabah Sarawak Gas Pipeline (SSGP) extension project to the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), the Kimanis Power Plant, Sabah Oil and Gas Terminal (SOGT), Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), Lahad Datu Re-Gasification Terminal, Lahad Datu Power Plant and Gas Separation Plant in Kimanis,” he added.
He said for the oil palm sector, two EPPs had been identified, that is, the Beluran and Kemabong Agropolitan Project, as well as the Sabah Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) project at Lahad Datu and Sandakan with an investment of RM22.485 billion.
“The GNI to be adduced from the project is RM8.766 billion and the oil palm sector will provide about 12,201 jobs,” he added.
The manufacturing and logistics sector will witness the setting up of the Main Line Operator Set Up project in the Sepanggar Investment and the KKIP project, while the GNI from this is expected to be RM1.939 billion, with about 23,471 jobs offered.
Tan said the projects and businesses identified will be developed by the private sector and also involves developing support industries such as spare parts supplies and small machines needed by the larger industries.
He said the large investments in the state will also bring about the rapid development of luxury and medium cost homes. — Bernama