SABAH’S economy showed signs of recovery with a growth of more than 1 per cent in its gross domestic product (GDP) to RM78.7 billion last year compared with 2020, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said based on findings from the GDP data published by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) on June 30 this year, Sabah’s 2020 GDP was worth RM77.8 billion, a 7.8 per cent decrease, compared with pre-pandemic 2019.
“The service sector dominated with a 47.3 per cent contribution to Sabah’s GDP, followed by a 26 per cent contribution from the mining and quarry sector.
“Sabah’s GDP per capita at RM47,324 in 2021 was below the national level,” he said at the inauguration of the Malaysia Census 2020 Sabah Key Discovery Tour series in Kota Kinabalu on Sept 8. State Community Development and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Shahelmy Yahya and DoSM Chief Statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin also attended the event.
Meanwhile, The Chief Minister said there was a decrease in the population growth rate in Sabah, from 2.3 per cent in 2010 to 0.9 per cent in 2020.
Hajiji said based on the data in the first publication of the 2020 Malaysia Census Key Findings, Sabah recorded a population of over 3.41 million compared with over 3.11 million in 2010.
He said 26.5 per cent of Sabah’s population were aged 14 and below, while the gender ratio was 109 males for every 100 females.
Hajiji said the State Government will use the Malaysia Census 2020 statistics up to the district level in order to administer the State more efficiently and effectively.
“In line with the direction of Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan, statistics from the main publication of the 2020 Malaysia Census can be used at the State and district’s administrative levels for input and reference to measure socio-economic development programme implementation,” he said.
He said there was a spin-off of 600 sub-national publications as a result of the census at the State Assembly level (DUN) and this, too, can be used as a source of reference among State Assembly members to plan socio-economic development and strategies to provide the best services to the population.
Among the main findings of the DUN Subnational Statistics for Sabah, Hajiji said, is that the Karambunai constituency has the highest number of residents and residences, with 164,000 people and 35,463 residences.
The Banggi constituency recorded the lowest number of residents and residences, with 9,000 people and 2,588 residences.
Kota Kinabalu district has the highest population of 500,421, followed by the Sandakan district with 439,050 people.
“If you look at the composition of the young population, Putatan district recorded 34.5 per cent, making it the district with the largest composition of the young population. These data and statistics can give a true picture of the current population situation in Sabah,” he said.
Hajiji said the SMJ development plan is being implemented to ensure the State’s economic development achieves fair, equitable and inclusive economic distribution to all levels of income groups in Sabah.
“These statistics are very important as significant information for the State Government in monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of development programmes, implementation of decisions and research at the State, administrative district, Parliament and DUN levels.
“This data can also be used as a reference by the State Government to provide the best input in succeeding in the development agenda outlined in the Hala Tuju SMJ in the future,” he added. Touching on the tour programme, Hajiji said the programme was the first organised by DOSM at the State level with the aim of raising awareness related to the findings and statistics that have been published as a result of the Malaysia Census 2020 implementation.
He hoped DOSM, which has successfully released reliable data, will continue to release data that meets the aspirations and wishes of stakeholders as well as the needs of various levels translated through the increased availability of social and economic data.
* Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss.
* Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
