Kota Kinabalu, Friday, 23 February 2024
The belated explanation by the Ministry of Industrial Development on the fate of the Sabah Trade Centre shows that the lack of an O.C. (occupational certificate) is not a stumbling block to the operation at Sabah Trade Centre. The Ministry’s full explanation made no mention of O.C. and did not address any of the valid questions raised by the current management (MB Managers and Consultants).
As widely reported in the media, a Sabah government agency, Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) has already submitted a proposal to the government to operate the Sabah Trade Centre.
This means that TAED and BIMP-EAGA Envoy office already has a concrete plan.
Therefore, the most logical way forward for the Sabah Trade Centre is to approve the long standing application by Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) and Office of the Special Envoy of BIMP-EAGA.
Both TAED and BIMP-EAGA Envoy office are headed by a distinguished and suitably experienced former Speaker of Parliament, Tan Sri Pandekar Amin Mulia, who reports directly to the Chief Minister.
As an active partner in the BIMP-EAGA region, Sabah needs to have our own Facilitation Office and centre to showcase Sabah’s economic progress, including to host expositions as a strategy to promote trade that is beneficial to Sabah.
What better place than the Sabah Trade Centre which can made ready in a matter of months at minimal cost.
Datuk Yong Teck Lee
Ex-Chief Minister