SABAH Chief Minister Shafie Apdal today made an open plea to Sabah businessmen to invest in the state, promising them economic and political stability.  

The Warisan president, in his Chinese New Year open house address in Likas, Kota Kinabalu, said he was grateful for the contributions of the Chinese community, but urged them to further assist the state government in spurring the state economy and providing jobs for Sabahans. 

“I’m aware that this is a turbulent time, but I assure you, the government will ensure political and economic stability. 

“We want towkays to invest their funds in Sabah, help Sabah and its people. 

“If the economy is doing well, towkays will no longer need to donate to the poor, and Sabah’s poor will no longer depend on government cash aid, like BR1M (1Malaysia People’s Aid),” Shafie said at the Hakka Association Hall.

Shafie gave his assurance that genuine investments would not be curtailed by regulatory red tape.

“Don’t worry too much about not getting approvals. If there’s a delay, just tell me. If they (government agencies) are late in approving developments, come to my office. I will do something to hasten it.”

He said this in reference to an earlier report by The Malaysian Insight on complaints by Sabah developers who claimed they had to wait up to six years to get their development plans (DP) approved. 

Present were leaders of the Chinese community, Sabah ministers and consul generals of Brunei and China. About 5,000 people attended the event.

The Semporna MP said he had also instructed his ministers to spend at least one quarter of the funds allocated to them in this year’s budget, saying he wanted to ensure liquidity in the public sector system. 

Shafie also announced he would be going abroad to woo foreign investments from Europe, Japan and China.

He said state Trade and Industries Minister Wilfred Madius Tangau and International Trade and Industries Minister Darell Leiking were set to accompany him on the trips. 

Meanwhile, Shafie also expressed his gratitude to Sabah’s Chinese communities for voting for change in the 14th general election. 

“We (Warisan-PH-Upko) could not envision winning the election. 

“I must admit, we were able to realise this as there was a big shift and support from Chinese communities.

“It was not easy for us to topple a government that had run the country for more than 60 years but the indication and all the signals were there.” – February 5, 2019.