KOTA KINABALU: All political parties in Sabah should work together to ensure the abolishment of the cabotage policy before the year of 2020.
Kota Kinabalu Member of Parliament Jimmy Wong yesterday said that the cabotage policy is the reason why Sabah is backwards in terms of development when compared to other states in Peninsular Malaysia.
He said the cabotage policy, among others, had resulted in higher costs for businesses to operate in Sabah.
“Although investors are keen to come, the cost of doing business is simply too high. Despite the available labour, they still would not come for the same reason,” he lamented.
Aside from the high costs of doing business in Sabah, Wong said the prices of goods, including properties, have also been high, all thanks to the cabotage policy.
“For 30 years, there has been unending calls for the abolishment of the cabotage policy, which only benefits a few Malaysian shipping companies/agencies,” he alleged.
The victims of the cabotage policy are the common folks residing in Sabah who have to pay more for the same services and goods, he said.
Jimmy added Malaysia should emulate Singapore, Japan and Australia, which do not have a cabotage policy.
“Yet, their shipping industry is thriving,” he said.
He added that after 30 years of protection, the shipping industry in Malaysia should already be able to stand on their own feet instead of being protected by the policy.
“If those who have received protection after 30 years are still not independent … how can we strive towards a high income nation? This government policy hinders the growth of the nation,” he said.
He reminded that there are many small industries in Sabah and they have never received such protection.
“They had to operate in unfavorable conditions. They had to pay high electricity and water rate as compared to industries established in Peninsular Malaysia. The poor and the common folks residing in rural Sabah are the ones that have to pay the highest price,” he said.
“Even from birth, Sabahans already have to pay 30 percent more for the cost of living here as compared to Peninsular Malaysia,” Jimmy said.