KOTA KINABALU: Parti Warisan has called on the Sabah government to focus on upskilling Sabahans on the state’s east coast by attracting mid- and high-value industries to support ongoing economic development within the Brunei Indonesia Malaysia Philippines-East Asean Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA).

       Merotai assemblyman Sarifuddin Hata (pic) said better infrastructures and utilities, such as stable water and electricity supply and wider connectivity, must also be prioritised for such purposes.

       He said Sabah must take advantage of its east coast's close proximity to the southern Philippines and the busy Lombok-Makassar Straits.

       "Economic opportunities are there for Sabah,” he said in a statement here on Sunday (March 31).

       “And upon commencement of Indonesia’s new Nusantara capital at Kalimantan, the Lombok-Makassar Straits will become very busy,” he added.

       Sarifuddin, who also leads the economic policy unit of Warisan’s state election committee, said that Kalimantan would also pose a threat to Sabah when industry-trained and qualified Sabahans are poached to work there.

       "The committee believes that while Sabah currently faces a labour shortage due to Indonesian workers returning to their country, our industry-trained and capable Sabahans may also leave and work in Kalimantan if opportunities are aplenty there,” Sarifuddin said.

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