Kota Kinabalu: Sabah will also benefit economically from the inevitable expansion of the Borneo economy because of the development of the new Indonesian capital, Nusantara, which will be situated in Kalimantan in 2024, said Datuk Yong Teck Lee.
Speaking as a guest-of-honour at the Asia Pacific TOP Outstanding President Award Annual Meeting 2022, he said Sabah is strategically located geographically.
“To the east of Kalimantan, there is heavy flow of shipping traffic, known as the Lombok-Makkasar Straits. This is the shipping route linking North East Asia (China, Japan and Korea) to East Asean and Australia and New Zealand. This strategic Lombok-Makassar shipping route is the second busiest after the Malacca Straits,” he said.
The former Sabah Chief Minister predicted that Kalimantan’s population would grow to 20 million in 15 years.
“All sorts of construction materials and services will be needed. Food, consumer goods and services are in great demand.
“What now remains for us Malaysians, especially in Sabah and Sarawak, is how to adapt to the new normal - a rich and prosperous Kalimantan.”
In terms of the stages of development, Yong said, Kalimantan today is like Guangdong 30 years ago. Kalimantan in 20 years’ time, will be like Guangdong today, a rich and prosperous province.
“To Sabah’s east is the Philippines, a vibrant country of 110 million people. Tomorrow, the Philippines will be electing a new, strong and experienced team of President and Vice President that will continue the policies of the current government. Stability and progress are what we should expect in our huge neighbour to the East.
“I believe that their past conflicts in the Southern Philippines are over. The BangsaMoro Autonomous government, which governs the Muslim Provinces of the Southern Philippines, has done well in bring stability, security and growth to the region, our immediate neighbours.
“And, to our north, is China, the dragon that has awaken. I think I do not need to convince you about China’s peaceful rise, the Belt Road Initiative and the beneficial economic impact on Asean economies.
“In short, Sabah is surrounded by rich and prosperous countries. Consistent with the “Prosper Thy Neighbour” concept, there is every reason to have confidence that Sabah will also prosper in the years to come.
Yong urged members, as successful business people, to see the economic potential in Sabah and help make Sabah an economic powerhouse.
“As your members come from 18 countries, and your association has offices in several cities, you can use your extensive network to trade with Sabah and to bring investments to Sabah and strengthen Sabah’s business global business networking,” he added.He is sure that the Professor Datuk Dr Wilson Yong, Malaysia Maritime Silk Road President, Datuk Philip Yong, the Sabah Maritime Silk Road Chairman, Sabah – China Business Association, Datuk Liew Soon Tai and others can work hand in hand with Dato’ Seri Liaw Jixiang and other associations.
Yong thanked the President of APC (Sabah) Datuk Seri Winston Liaw, organising chairman Chong Yin Chye MBA and committee for inviting him to officiate this meaningful event.
Yong took a brief moment to introduce a Sabah government asset called POIC Sabah located in Lahad Datu, which is strategically located in Asean and RCEP.
He said POIC Sabah is an industrial park with its own ports for liquid, dry and containers, which at 20 meters is one of the deepest in Asean. It is strategically located along RCEP and Asean trading routes. For transhipment of containers at the Philippines to the USA, POIC port at Lahad Datu is the closest to the Philippines.
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