KOTA KINABALU: Various initiatives under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) are being implemented to create as many jobs as possible to lure Sabahans back to work in the state.

       This includes bringing investments into Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park (Sogip) and Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.

       With an estimated 200,000 Sabahans currently working in Peninsular Malaysia, he said more employment opportunities available locally should ensure that people of the state, especially the youth, will no longer look for work elsewhere.

       “That is why the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-Barisan Nasional (GRS-BN) state government is focused on creating an investor-friendly state.

       “I want to bring in investors to Sabah so that we can create more job opportunities for local youths," he said during a breaking of fast ceremony hosted by Sipitang Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) at Weston on Saturday (April 23).

       Hajiji disclosed that 10 major companies have signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) to invest in Sogip.

       The investments, potentially worth billions, would benefit the people of Sipitang district through job opportunities and economic spin-offs.

       Other high-impact projects that have taken off are two in KKIP and another in Paitan where a high-yield coconut plantation project is being implemented.

       “Despite facing challenges during its early days, the GRS-BN government managed to prepare the Hala Tuju SMJ, a five-year plan to develop Sabah, launched just six months after taking over the helm.

       “Within just a year (as) the state government, we managed to attract investors to come, with some already having signed agreements to set up operations in Sabah," he said.