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RM2.5 billion tourism project in Semporna, not Sipadan – SEDIA <b>...</b> Berita Sabah - News 2 Sabah

RM2.5 billion tourism project in Semporna, not Sipadan – SEDIA <b>...</b>

Posted: 13 Jan 2014 09:10 AM PST

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (SEDIA) clarified that the proposed RM2.5 billion tourism-based integrated development project is to be situated in Semporna and not in Sipadan.

SEDIA said yesterday that it had been inadvertently stated that the project is to be sited on Sipadan Island.

The meeting last week with the China investors of the project was also attended by an officer from the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment, and not an officer from the Sabah Tourism Board as previously stated, it added.

As commented by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Masidi Manjun, SEDIA said the project with Diving Best is in fact an expansion of the existing Sipadan Mangrove Resort (SMR), an Entry Point Project (EPP) listed under the Regional Cities and Corridors programme with an estimated investment value of RM491 million, and set to generate RM114.9 million in GNI in 2020.

The collaboration between Diving Best and SMR is the result of successfully matching the China investors with a local business partner after their first meeting with SEDIA. The location of the proposed project was decided on private land belonging to SMR, with a land size of 280 acres and was chosen for its close proximity to Sipadan Island; 35 minutes by speedboat.

SEDIA recognises the significance of preserving Sipadan Island in its natural state, and any confusion that had arisen from the previous statement is deeply regretted, it said in a statement.

As listed in the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) blueprint, one of the three key principles underpinning SDC activities is the need to ensure sustainable growth via environmental conservation. The other two principles are capturing higher value economic activities and promoting balanced economic growth with distribution. These three principles continue to guide SEDIA in its role of facilitating investment into Sabah, of which it has managed to capture significant interest.

SEDIA last year had its accounts for the year 2012 given a clean bill of health by the Attorney General, for the fourth straight year in fact. This is a clear indication of the good management practices within SEDIA, of which SEDIA has strengthened its management process by achieving the MS ISO9001: 2008 standard to further enhance the quality of these practises. This effort was made to ensure the confidence of all stakeholders within the SDC and safeguard the public confidence.

Since the start of the second phase of the SDC, SEDIA has accordingly been more aggressive in attracting investments into Sabah. In line with this emphasis, SEDIA has been participating in State-sponsored and MITI/MIDA-led investment and trade missions locally and abroad.

The response from these missions has been very encouraging, having stirred significant interest and drawing substantial investment in the sectors promoted under the Halatuju agenda and the SDC, vis in tourism, agriculture and manufacturing, amongst others.

These measures have begun to show results, as evidenced by the vibrant investment climate and from its launching in 2008, cumulative committed investment in the SDC has reached RM127 billion as at the end of 2013.

It was announced at the end of February, 2013 by the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) that the Sabah Development Corridor recorded the highest investment garnered in the manufacturing sector for the year 2012, at RM5 billion.

To further increase investor interest in the SDC, the Federal Ministry of Finance had also approved a tax incentives package listed under the SDC. The package will enable SEDIA to further attract investors globally and from other parts of Malaysia, promoting Sabah as an ideal location for conducting business.

The investment tax incentive package will cover activities in, among others; tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and major industries located within the Strategic Development Areas of the SDC. These tax incentives are applicable for applications received by SEDIA up until 31 December 2020.

With all the measures being implemented by the State and Federal Governments, Sabah in particular and Malaysia as a whole will continue to prosper. Therefore the undivided support of all Sabahans towards the SDC initiative will enable the enormous task of transforming the state and national economy continue, unhindered.

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Lawas hit by flood, airport closed - The Borneo Post Online

Posted: 15 Jan 2014 11:19 AM PST

by Philip Kiew and Mohamad Abdullah, reporters@theborneopost.com. Posted on January 16, 2014, Thursday

LAWAS: Continuous heavy rain since Tuesday night caused Lawas Airport and part of Lawas town to be inundated in flood waters yesterday.

As the main Lawas and Trusan rivers swelled yesterday, passengers who had booked afternoon flights were stranded as the airport closed, shopkeepers scrambled to save their goods, while those living in low-lying areas worry about their safety and losses.

The airport was temporarily closed at about 2pm as flood waters reached the stairs of the small terminal building, and its closure affected four flights. Four earlier fights in the morning were not affected.

Lawas district officer cum district disaster relief and coordination committee chairman Hussaini Hakim, when contacted, said his office was monitoring the situation closely.

"Lawas is experiencing heavy rain right now. We have mobilised personnel to flood hit and flood prone areas to give a helping hand," said Hussaini, who had gone to Kampung Luagan to oversee the situation. It is understood that the road at Kampung Siang Siang was cut off by flash flood yesterday morning and the Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba) personnel had rushed there to render assistance.

Other areas inundated include Kampung Seberang Kedai across Lawas town, low-lying areas in Sundar, and the road linking Sundar to Lawas.

Low-lying areas in Merapok near the border area also experienced flash flood due to the overflowing Sungai Sindumin in Sabah.

Many cellular phone users saw red yesterday as the inclement weather wrecked havoc on telecommunication services.

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100 grocery shops in <b>Sabah</b> and Sarawak to become COOP <b>...</b>

Posted: 09 Jan 2014 12:48 AM PST

Posted on January 9, 2014, Thursday

KUALA LUMPUR:The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) will be changing the status of 100 grocery shops in Sabah and Sarawak to COOP Mart or  COOP 1Malaysia shops this year.

KPDNKK Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said that the status-change was to ensure that COOP 1M products would reach Sabah and Sarawak as part of the government's efforts reduce the people's financial burden due to the rising prices of goods and cost of living.

He said that Coop 1M products, mostly produced by cooperatives and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will be 20 to 30 per cent cheaper than other products but with the same quality.

Hasan said that COOP 1M products could be purchased from 371 COOP Marts throughout the country, 69 of which are operating in Sabah and 45 in Sarawak. -Bernama

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