KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s development arm - the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat, has set up a dedicated task force serving as a coordinated platform to prioritise key business and industry concerns as well as engage with industry representatives among other things.
This committee was set up following a Forum and Townhall on the Direction of the Sabah Maju Jaya Development Plan (SMJ 2.0: 2026–2030) held in Tuaran recently.
According to the SMJ secretariat, this task force would translate stakeholder feedback into actionable policy inputs for SMJ 2.0 implementation, support inter-agency coordination to reduce policy silos and engage continuously with industry representatives to ensure alignment over the 2026–2030 planning horizon.
The secretariat said that the townhall session involved representatives from major industry associations, chambers of commerce, professional bodies, youth business leaders, small and medium entrepreneurs, and policymakers.
The session was meant to provide structured feedback on Sabah’s economic direction for the next five years.
It said that key discussions included private sector competitiveness, youth entrepreneurship, venture capital and digital economy, talent development, regulatory efficiency, and investment readiness under SMJ 2.0.
Participants welcomed the open and consultative platform, noting that the townhall session enabled frank and solution-oriented dialogue between policymakers and the business community.
During the session, industry leaders highlighted the need for stronger policy coordination between state agencies and industry, faster regulatory turnaround times for investors and SMEs, clearer implementation pathways for digital economy, innovation, and youth entrepreneurship.
It also suggested a more structured public-private collaboration mechanism to ensure continuity and accountability under SMJ 2.0.
Discussion outcomes from this session will be documented and set to be launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor on Jan 30, the secretariat revealed.
