Sabah has been left out from the multi-billion China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiative, which Malaysia is the principal partner in Asean.
Sabah was getting the least out of the Chinese infrastructure and real investments.
Most of the OBOR flagship projects had been located in Peninsular Malaysia.
This is a manifestation of imbalanced regional development across the South China Sea.
During Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s five-day visit to China last May, nine Business-to-Business Memorandum of Understanding in various sectors, including construction, agriculture, financial market, infrastructure and investment cooperation worth RM31.26 billion were signed.
Only a cooperation agreement related to Sabah had been signed, that was to develop “The Shore” worth RM572.96 million.
The development was just 1.6 per cent of the total RM31.26 billion worth of MoUs signed.
What happen to Sabah, the equal partner in formation of Malaysia and yet missing out in the OBOR iniatiative?
Under China’s OBOR, Sabah had the golden opportunity to uplift its infrastructure to attract larger foreign investments and boost its slowing economy.
However, there is a huge gap between the opportunities seen and the efforts we have put in to capitalise on the OBOR iniatitive. I hope the state government can double their efforts in this regard.
Meanwhile, I urge the Sabah Immigration Department to stop any plan for a major crackdown against illegal workers until the Rehiring and Placement programme ends next month.
Sabah Government’s initiative implemented by the Sabah Immigration Department to legalise illegal foreign workers from Indonesia and the Philippines has been lauded by employers needing workers in the State.
The grace period runs from Feb 15 to Aug 15, 2017 and is applicable to those aged 18 to 54 with valid passport but have overstayed in Sabah, with expired work pass documents, in good health and no criminal records.
How come our Immigration Department is carrying out enforcement together with the end of E-card programme early of this month in Peninsular Malaysia?
The Sabah initiative is not the same as that for West Malaysia.
Any stern action taken during the grace period for Sabah would only defeat the purpose of the Rehiring and Placement programme, which was to give opportunity to employers to obtain permits for their workers working illegally.
However, the employers should also do their part to legalise their illegal workers during this six- month grace period that would end soon.