Government To Leverage Sabah's Strengths, Capabilities To Attract High-tech Manufacturing Investors -- MITI

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- The government plans to leverage Sabah's local strengths and capabilities to attract investors in the high-tech manufacturing industry, with a focus on downstream activities.

Deputy minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Liew Chin Tong said that this aligns with Mission 4 of the New Industrial Master Plan (NIMP) 2030, which emphasises harmonising development plans between the federal and state governments.

Liew highlighted several potential downstream industrial activities in the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) in Lahad Datu, covering sectors such as palm oil, biomass, and petrochemicals.

"POIC Lahad Datu has the potential to become a hub for palm oil-based products like oleochemicals,  nutraceuticals, plastics, biofuels, and cosmetics. It also has potential for biomass-based products like biochemicals, biofuels, bioplastics, electricity, fuels, paper, pulp, and fibre," he said during the question-and-answer session in Dewan Rakyat today.

Liew also noted that POIC Lahad Datu's integrated port facilities including liquid, dry, and container terminals, support the handling of various types of cargo in the petrochemical industry cargo, such as oil refineries, bulk storage, and product distribution.

He was responding to Riduan Rubin (Independent-Tenom), who inquired about the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry strategic framework to attract investors to Sabah's high-tech manufacturing sector.

The deputy minister pointed out that the initiative could create job opportunities for Sabah's Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) graduates, helping to strengthen local economic development.

Liew also said POIC Lahad Datu has the potential to become a logistics and transhipment hub, with facilities including a free trade zone, bonded warehouses, cold storage, food processing, oil and gas storage, bunkering and bulking, and a supply base.

In the halal industry, POIC Lahad Datu has been recognised as the first industrial park with HALMAS status in Sabah, making it attractive to halal-based industries such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.

"Its location near the container port also facilitates import and export activities," he said.

According to Liew  NIMP 2030 also emphasises skill development and job creation, targeting 3.3 million jobs in the manufacturing sector, with three million aimed at high-skilled and semi-skilled jobs.

To support TVET graduates in Sabah, the government is taking steps to develop talent in the solar industry, with companies like SBH Kibing Solar New Materials (M) Sdn Bhd involved, he said.

"The Kota Kinabalu Industrial Training Institute (ILP) has conducted internal interviews to match skilled labour with job opportunities in the related industrial sectors. 

"ILP Kota Kinabalu has also been designated as a talent development centre in solar technology, while ILP Sandakan focuses on talent for the electric vehicle and hydrogen industries," he added.

-- BERNAMA