THE strategic island of Labuan was previously part of Sabah and is well-known for its duty-free zone status.
People from the mainland used to visit the island for vacation and shopping due to the cheaper prices of goods and services.
Labuan has since been added to the list of Federal Territories in April 1984; however, its socioeconomic development remains behind that of other Federal Territories such as Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya, much of a contrary to the aspirations and dreams of its people.
Thus, the underdevelopment of Labuan has been a growing concern to its residents.
