SANDAKAN: The omission of Sandakan from the Federal Budget 2025 has raised concern over the government’s neglect of the east coast town, which continues to face economic stagnation and deteriorating infrastructure.
A former national president of Junior Chamber International Malaysia (JCI Malaysia), Datuk John Khoo Choo Ping, said Sandakan has been left out for too long despite its past contributions to Sabah’s economy and its potential as a major tourism hub.
“Sandakan is like a stagnant pool of water, money keeps flowing out, but nothing new is coming in. Over time, the pool dries up, and naturally, the economy deteriorates.
“That is exactly what’s happening to Sandakan. We need a fresh flow of water; new investments, better infrastructure, and stronger tourism development to bring life back to the city,” he said.
“Otherwise, we will continue to decline while other districts move forward.”Khoo made the remarks when closing the “Little Hong Kong Food Street 3.0”, recently, an event organised by JCI Sandakan at SMJK Tiong Hua.
He stressed that his speech was not political but reflected deep concern over the government’s apparent neglect of the district.
He expressed disappointment that Sandakan was not mentioned in the recent budget, despite the Prime Minister’s announcement of allocations to improve Sabah’s water supply.
“The government talked about new facilities in Tawau and pipeline upgrades in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang, and Sipitang, but not a single mention of Sandakan, the district facing one of the worst water crises in Sabah,” he said.
Khoo also criticised the authorities’ handling of the recent week-long water disruption, describing the bottled water distribution as “superficial and wasteful”.
“No ministers or department heads came to the ground to see what residents were going through. Bottled water only offers temporary relief and creates more plastic waste. What we need are long-term solutions,” he said.
He added that Sandakan’s tourism potential continues to be overlooked despite being home to world-renowned attractions such as the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre and the Kinabatangan River.
“They always boast that tourist arrivals in Sabah have reached new highs, but few mention how many actually visit Sandakan,” he said, adding that state tourism leaders should visit the area and see the situation for themselves.
Khoo urged Sandakan residents to speak up and demand better representation. “We must not remain silent anymore. It’s time to stand up for our rights and dignity,” he said.
