Dr Yusof Yacob (right) presenting incentive to a staff of Ritz Supplier Sdn Bhd. – Bernama photo
LABUAN: Sipitang will soon have its own development blueprint to drive its socio-economic development in tandem with the state’s long-term industrial plan.
Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yussof Yacob said the district, which is currently houses urea plants, could have been better with consistent and concerted efforts to develop the district.
He stressed Sipitang has a strong potential to be another Sabah’s industrial region with the necessary infrastructures in place.
“We must first ensure basic necessities like power and water power supplies are sufficient with minimal non-revenue water (NRW), the road communication must be in good shape and upgraded, and internet penetration fully covers the whole district,” he said to reporters after presenting incentive to outstanding staff of Ritz Supplier Staff at Venture Reach Rest House here yesterday.
Dr Yussof said the district had long been left behind, with unemployment rate still high, as such, strategic economic plans are needed to pluck the people out of the economic doldrums.
“As Sabah is moving towards a new era in the government administration, we want to ensure the people across the state including in the interior having the comfort in their life, with more employment and business opportunities for them, therefore, the basic necessities are needed,” he said.
He said the Sipitang should ideally have government departments and agencies, more factories, new housing estates and a water plant to cater for the growing population in the district.
Dr Yussof added the oil and gas downstream industry would soon be operational at the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (SOGIP), which would in turns open up employment opportunities to the locals and spill business activities over to the district.
“Timber and bamboo downstream processing industries are also taking shape in the district with investors having shown interest to develop them,” he said.
Dr Yussof said with the bright future of the Sipitang’s industrial plan, the district must have an open port to cater for the industrial sectors and growing demand of consumers goods.
“Currently Sipitang only has two ports one of which is for the Sabah Forest Industry (SFI) and another is for the urea plants … to increase visitor arrival from neighbouring Brunei, which is also close to Sipitang, we must also think of the construction of a ferry landing jetty,” he said.
Dr Yussof said once the appointment of the district council members and related posts is made, a steering development committee (think tank) would be established to look into the overall economic development of Sipitang.
“This committee is tasked like a think tank group to identify sustainable industries potentially generating economic activities and employment opportunities. It will also look at the tourism, agriculture and breeding sectors for the district,” he said.
Dr Yussof hoped the development blueprint would yield sustainable economic development for Sipitang.
“We will kick-start the engine of our development plans beginning next year, and we hope we should be able to see tremendous economic changes during this first term of Warisan-led government,” he said.