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KOTA KINABALU – The Labuan Chamber of Commerce (LCC) has backed Labuan Parti Bersatu Sabah leader Datuk Peter Mak’s calls to build a bridge to connect Labuan with Sabah’s mainland.
Its chairman Daniel Doughty said as Labuan aims to diversify its economy, the proposed bridge would provide a significant boost to the island’s development as it would foster connectivity, draw investment, and generate jobs across various sectors such as tourism, logistics, and agriculture.
“Moreover, it would render transportation more efficient and cost-effective for both the local population and businesses.
“The chamber firmly believes that the bridge would unleash the island’s full potential as an economic hub and stimulate growth in the region. The bridge is not a luxury but a necessity for Labuan, the keyword is improved connectivity,” Doughty said in a statement today.
He also pointed to the success story of Penang Bridge despite courting controversy during the early years of its construction.
Penang now has over 350 multinational corporations (MNCs) and 4,000 small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with a strong and vibrant electrical and electronics ecosytem.
Doughty explained that a bridge connecting Labuan to Sabah would allow the federal and Sabah governments to make the island a new economic corridor that will be able to serve the nearby mainland towns and communities.
“It will attract MNCs and SMEs to invest and operate in the new area corridor, which would create job opportunities, boost trade, and stimulate economic growth for both mainland Sabah and Labuan,” he said.
Doughty said by emulating Penang’s success, the Labuan-Sabah Bridge will unlock the potential of the region and bring about new opportunities for the people of Sabah and Labuan.
Nevertheless, the chamber acknowledged the formidable challenges faced by the government in pursuing the bridge’s construction. Therefore, it is crucial to adopt a pragmatic approach when dealing with the matter, he said.
He said that if the government encounters difficulties in funding the bridge, and if the request-for-proposal processes for building the bridge fall short, it could also consider relocating the ferry terminal to Tg Aru.
LCC suggests that the roll-on, roll-off (RoRo) ferry service between Tg Aru and Mempakul could alleviate Labuan’s connectivity issues with the mainland. The distance between Labuan and Mempakul is approximately 5.8km, and the estimated RoRo ferry ride duration is only 45 minutes.
“We urge the government to proceed with the proposed bridge project, or at the very least consider the proposed relocation of the RoRo ferry terminal to bring progress, growth, and prosperity to the island.
“We also call upon the government to be serious in solving the water and electricity problem on the island, which is the basis for the set-up of industries in Labuan,” he said. – The Vibes, February 20, 2023
