KOTA KINABALU: The government of India’s decision to open a consulate of India here has stirred up a mix of positive and negative reactions among Sabahans.
For the National Consumer Foundation Malaysia Sabah chapter, this is a significant milestone that is not merely a diplomatic expansion but a strategic economic catalyst that will strengthen bilateral trade and tighten relations between Sabah and India.
Its president, David Chan, said this move could spur investment flows, industrial cooperation, tourism development, and people-to-people ties.
“We view this development as a milestone that reflects the Prime Minister’s commitment to prioritising Sabah’s economic growth and international engagement,” he said in a statement on Thursday (Feb 12).
Chan said as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies, India presents vast opportunities for Sabah in sectors such as manufacturing and industrial development, technology and digital economy, renewable energy cooperation, agriculture and food security, tourism and education exchange.
As the decision is also fully supported by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, he said the foundation believes that the presence of an Indian Consulate in Kota Kinabalu will attract more Indian investors to Sabah, encourage joint ventures and industrial expansion and create more local job opportunities for Sabahan youths.
It could facilitate smoother business processes and trade documentation and enhance Sabah’s position as a regional economic gateway in Borneo as well, he said.
“This initiative demonstrates that Sabah is no longer on the periphery but is increasingly becoming a focal point in Malaysia’s international diplomacy and economic strategy,” Chan said.
He said this move was a forward-looking vision by the Prime Minister, signalling strong confidence in Sabah’s economic potential and strategic importance within the Federation.
“We also view this as a meaningful development in conjunction with Malaysia’s continued progress since independence, further strengthening Sabah’s global connectivity and economic resilience,” he said.
However, there were many who voiced concern over what could happen if the Indian consulate were opened in Sabah.
An opposition division leader, Warisan's Norazmi Alimat, said some of the concerns he heard were in terms of security, job opportunities and other economic and social implications.
“I would like the federal government to explain to the state, the scope, function and implications of this suggestion while having a public forum involving youth and Sabahans, before any decision is made,” he said.
Stating that it was his personal view, he also called for assurance that the autonomic rights, immigration powers and safety of Sabah would not be affected with this move.
On social media, many netizens also asked why the Indian government wants to open up a Consulate here, when it was in fact the Philippines that should open up a Consulate due to the large number of their citizens in Sabah.
They also wondered whether this would cause an influx of yet another group of immigrants, seeing how Sabah is already ‘home’ to a melting pot of immigrants - legal and illegal, as well as the stateless people.
On Feb 7, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his decision to open up the Consulate in Kota Kinabalu during an official visit to Malaysia.
