Wong
KOTA KINABALU: The Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) will undergo restructuring to open up membership to more industries.
Its president, Datuk Seri Panglima Wong Khen Thau, said this had been agreed in the previous annual general meeting (AGM) and FSM would most likely to be renamed as the Federation of Sabah Industries.
The change is expected to happen at the end of the year or early next year.
He said Sabah industries must work together and consolidate in order to speak with one voice.
“We will work with other industries and open up membership to more industries and private sector, even the tourism industry,” he said.
FSM currently has around 200 members.
Wong pointed out that this was a good economic strategy as in the long run, Sabah could be promoted as a hub for the far east.
“We hope our national leaders have the foresight to see the seriousness of this concept. It is not a dream, the blue ocean strategy came through in Dubai.
“We have more potential than Dubai. If Dubai can make it, I don’t see why Sabah can’t,” he said after the press conference on Sabah International Expo 2012 here yesterday.
It may take 10 or 20 years for Sabah to be a hub, but Wong said the people must have the foresight and the federal government should take it seriously.
He said investors could be invited to collaborate or invest in our ports to develop Sabah as a major port hub.
When that happens, Wong explained that we would not have to worry about cabotage policy anymore as foreign ships would come in. The economy will also spill over to our neighbouring countries such as the Philippines and Indonesia, he said.
Meanwhile, on China and Japan’s dispute over the inhibited group of islands in East China Sea, Wong said it had not affected Sabah yet.
However, if the situation deteriorates, Wong said it would affect the economy of the whole region.
He did hope that the dispute would not prolong and the islands should be left as what they used to be.