Kuala Lumpur: Sandakan MP Vivian Wong warned that Malaysia risks missing out on economic spillovers from rapid development in Kalimantan and the growth of international shipping routes if action is not taken soon.
“Sandakan’s potential is already clear. The government must act now,” she said, when debating the 13th Malaysia Plan in parliament.
Vivian also said the development imbalance in Sabah has persisted for too long, despite the East Coast being home to nearly half the state’s population.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“Sandakan, as the second-largest city in Sabah, has a unique strategic advantage, it has both an international port and airport, rich natural resources, and is located at the heart of the East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) economic corridor,” she said.
She proposed that Sandakan be declared a Special Economic Zone to attract investments in downstream and manufacturing industries, which would in turn create more quality job opportunities for locals.
Vivian also called for the construction of an integrated border checkpoint between Sandakan and Kalimantan to speed up cross-border trade and strengthen the East Coast’s role as a key logistics hub within the Bimp-Eaga growth zone.
“This could place the East Coast of Sabah as a key development focus in the regional growth map and reinforce Malaysia’s position in Asean,” she said.
She also highlighted the green and blue economy potential in Sandakan, given its abundant marine resources and reputation as a world-class ecotourism destination.
“Sandakan has the potential to become the country’s centre for fisheries, cruise tourism and green trade. But to realise this, infrastructure development must be prioritised.”
Among her proposals were the construction of a dedicated tourist terminal to nearby islands such as Pulau Berhala and Pulau Selingan, the opening of direct international flight routes from Sandakan to Hong Kong, Guangzhou or Singapore, and upgrading of the Sandakan Airport.
On maritime development, Vivian urged that Sandakan be developed as a “Makassar Strait Transshipment Hub,” in line with its strategic location along a key shipping route between China and Australia.
“The LKIM fisheries complex must be equipped with proper landing jetties, cold storage facilities, and a stable supply of subsidised diesel.
“In addition, dredging works must be carried out at the Sandakan Port and Berhala Strait to allow large vessels to dock,” she said.
