Tun Musa Aman delivers his first policy address as Sabah Head of State at the State Assembly opening, accompanied by Toh Puan Faridah Tussin.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah will ramp up investment, infrastructure and social development under a wide-ranging roadmap outlined by Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman in his maiden address to the state assembly.
Delivering the government's policy speech during the opening of the fifth session of the 16th Sabah State Assembly, Musa urged all quarters to support the final phase of the 12th Malaysia Plan and the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plans.
"We are at the tail-end of two important development blueprints. Let us ensure that each initiative is delivered effectively for the benefit of the people," he said on Thursday (April 10).
Sabah recorded RM6.5bil in investments last year, with 38.7% from manufacturing. To sustain momentum, new industrial parks will be developed in Kudat, Kota Belud and Beaufort to boost jobs and economic activity.
Food security remains a key focus, with efforts to raise rice self-sufficiency to 60% by 2030 and promote high-value crops such as avocados, Musang King durians and MD2 pineapples. Livestock self-sufficiency rose from 2.94% in 2021 to 9.33% in 2024, with a 25% target set for 2030.
The tourism sector saw 3.1 million arrivals in 2024, generating RM7.28bil in spending. Musa said the target for this year is 3.5 million visitors, supported by RM572.3mil in federal funding to upgrade Kota Kinabalu and Tawau airports.
"We must continue improving infrastructure and cleanliness at tourist destinations to support this momentum," he said.
The state is accelerating the 706km Pan Borneo Highway Phase 1, scheduled for completion by 2029. Long-term water supply will be addressed through the Ulu Padas scheme, integrated with the Upper Padas hydroelectric project. Sabah also aims for 50% renewable energy in its grid mix by 2035 and is preparing for carbon neutrality by 2050.
"We must be bold in pursuing clean energy. Sabah has the resources, the will, and the responsibility to transition to a low-carbon future," said Musa.
On education, RM42.14million in aid has been channelled to over 60,000 students, with new initiatives Sumbangan kepada Mahasiswa IPT dalam Sabah (Sentosa) and Sumbangan Kegiatan Sekolah Sabah (Sukses).
TVET and technical certification programmes continue to expand, with 17 energy-related training centres accredited.
Hardcore poverty reduction efforts saw 22,510 households removed from the list as of July 2024. The Rumah Mesra SMJ programme will increase to 40 units per constituency this year, while Bekalan Elektrik Luar Bandar Alternatif (Belba) and Bekalan Air Luar Bandar Alternatif (Belba) have improved utilities for thousands of rural residents. Meanwhile, Sabah's first MD2 pineapple export in February benefited 450 smallholders under the People's Income Initiative (IPR).
Other measures include the opening of the Sabah Autism Centre, expanded welfare support to NGOs, and plans to gazette 30% of the state as totally protected areas by year-end. The current figure stands at 27%.
Sabah's biodiversity and biotechnology strategies aim to strengthen conservation while encouraging innovation. The state is also drafting a climate change enactment and regulating carbon-trading activities.
To modernise governance, Sabah will roll out the Digital Government Innovation plan, integrating artificial intelligence to improve public service delivery. The i-Adu 2.0 complaints platform and app will also be expanded.
Land administration efforts include plans to survey 7,500 native title lots and gazette 80 native village reserves in 2025.
Musa commended the state's revenue performance, which reached RM6.842bil in 2024, and its clean audit record for 22 consecutive years. He noted new state sales taxes on silica sand, palm biomass, gold and silver, alongside stricter financial governance and board appointment procedures.
Looking ahead to the 13th Malaysia Plan, he urged state ministries and departments to prioritise programmes that reflect the people's needs.
"I believe that with the cooperation of all parties, we can lay a strong foundation for sustainable and inclusive growth," he said.
He concluded by thanking Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, the Cabinet, civil servants and security forces, and extended Hari Raya Aidilfitri greetings to all Sabahans.
