Sabah Records Approved Investments Worth RM11.37 Bln For First Half Of 2025

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 22 (Bernama) -- Sabah recorded approved investments totalling RM11.37 billion from January to June 2025, covering the manufacturing, services, and primary sectors, according to the Ministry of Investment, Trade, and Industry (MITI).

Deputy Minister Liew Chin Tong said the investments involved 82 projects and were expected to generate 1,945 new job opportunities.

"The largest investment during this period is in the basic metal products sector, which accounts for more than half of the total approved investments. Sabah has strong potential for economic growth based on a holistic development strategy as outlined in the national economic framework and industrial policies," he told a special chamber session in the Dewan Rakyat today.

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He was responding to a question from Riduan Rubin (Independent–Tenom) on monitoring mechanisms and guarantees to ensure that major investments in Sabah genuinely benefit the people, especially in terms of skilled job creation and human capital development.

Liew said close cooperation between the Sabah state government and the federal government will strengthen the implementation of development initiatives in the state, including the construction of modern infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airports, ports, railway networks, as well as utility and digital infrastructure.

As such, he said the government has increased Sabah’s development allocation to RM6.9 billion for 2025 to upgrade basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity supply, and clean water.

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He added that upgrading projects at Kota Kinabalu International Airport and Tawau Airport, which are currently underway, will further enhance Sabah’s attractiveness as an investment destination.

“For your information, the upgrading of Sapangar Bay Container Port has been approved and is expected to be completed by 2027, increasing its annual capacity from 500,000 TEUs to 1.25 million TEUs. This project also includes the construction of a dedicated road linking the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) to Sapangar Port to support the growing traffic volume,” he said.

Liew highlighted that MITI and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) have implemented various targeted approaches to attract more investments to Sabah. These include collaboration with other government agencies in formulating investment strategies, engagement sessions with investors, and coordinating site visits for potential investors.

He said this approach also supports Sabah's key development policy, which focuses on three main pillars: agriculture, industry, and tourism.

-- BERNAMA