KINABATANGAN, Jan 11 (Bernama) -- The tourism potential of Tanjung Aru Island can serve as a new catalyst for local economic development, particularly in empowering micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) directly involved in community-based tourism industry, said Deputy Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Datuk Mohamad Alamin.
He said the area has its own unique attractions, including a water village, traditional food products and marine activities that can be developed into high-impact tourism offerings.
“I see a lot of potential here, not only for homestays and tourism assets, but also to expand activities such as deep-sea fishing that can attract both domestic and foreign tourists. These are among the potentials that we need to develop,” he told reporters after an engagement session with the local entrepreneurial community here today.
He said that under the Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (KUSKOP), various funds have been provided to support the development of community-based tourism, especially in conjunction with Visit Malaysia 2026, including the development of homestays, expansion of tourism jetties as well as the addition of tourism assets and activities.
Mohamad said an integrated approach among agencies such as the National Entrepreneurial Group Economic Fund (TEKUN Nasional), Amanah Ikhtiar Malaysia (AIM), Small and Medium Enterprises Corporation Malaysia (SME Corp), SME Bank and Bank Rakyat is crucial to ensure that government assistance truly meets the needs of grassroots entrepreneurs.
“I urge the Director-General of TEKUN Nasional, AIM, as well as SME Corp, Bank Rakyat and SME Bank, to work in an integrated manner to assist entrepreneurs. Insya-Allah, I will continue to come down here to support engagement and interaction with them,” he said.
As a water village inhabited by a fishing community, Pulau Tanjung Aru, located about three nautical miles (5.5 kilometres) from the town of Sandakan, is only accessible by boat.
The village is home to the Brunei ethnic community, a minority group in Sabah that is largely found only in Membakut, Beaufort, Labuan and Brunei.
-- BERNAMA
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