KOTA KINABALU: A Singaporean firm has expressed interest in building a five-star resort that will also include a theme park in a protected reserve in Sabah.

       Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Jafry Ariffin said the state government would however need to adequately consider the proposal which involved building the resort in a protected area under the Sabah Parks’ watch.

       "We have to look at this carefully," he said, in a statement here on Tuesday (June 14).

       "We need to consider the best approach in bringing new investment into the area as it is a protected park."

       The resort proposal was among the essential items discussed during a meeting between Jafry and GSH Corporation executive chairman Datuk Sam Goi when he was in Singapore recently.

       Meanwhile, the Sabah tourism ministry delegation also discussed heavily with the company on the development of the first stand-alone theme park in the state, apart from the resort-cum-theme park earlier.

       Jafry said the theme park industry is gaining popularity at this time, adding Sabah should tap into the sector.

       "I hope Sabah will have a theme park that could rival the likes of Desaru Coast and Legoland Malaysia in future if a foreign investor is interested to develop such a facility in Sabah," he said, hoping the initiative would get the support needed by the state government.

       "This is an avenue and opportunity for Sabah because not only will it attract more tourists but a theme park will also be able to generate job opportunities and directly benefit the state’s economy," he added.