The Kudat Ferry Terminal. There are two trips daily to Banggi Island. – Bernama photo
KUDAT (Sept 15): Pulau Banggi, Malaysia’s largest island, once a wilderness without basic amenities, has now found its identity as a developing island community.
Every ferry and speedboat journey from Kudat, about 70 kilometres away, brings passengers to a world transformed — paved roads, telecommunications towers and power lines have changed the rhythm of daily life for its people.
The transformation has reshaped the island’s spirit. Once cut off, residents now enjoy internet connectivity, clean water and electricity, which have brought harmony and new opportunities into their lives.
Baki Alim, 52, from Kampung Batu Layar, said he was born on the island where his ancestors also lived.
“We have always wanted development equal to other places. Looking back before and just after independence, there was nothing here, no facilities, life was hard. But year after year, things have changed and we are proud to see how far we’ve come.
“We are very grateful to the government for bringing progress here, creating jobs and improving our lives,” said Baki, who now works as a machinery operator.
He said that since this month, islanders no longer need to travel to Kudat to spend the RM100 Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) appreciation aid, as it can now be used at five shops on the island.
“Previously, I had to go to Kudat to redeem SARA, which was not worth it because ferry fare is RM23 one way. Now we can use it here at five shops, which is much easier and the goods available are sufficient,” he said.
Baki said job opportunities have also grown on the island with the opening of shops, plantations and other businesses, most of which employ local residents.
For trader Asniah Bungsu, 50, from Kampung Batu Putih, the improvement in road access has made it easier to travel daily from her village to Karakit, where she has sold local delicacies for the past 20 years.
“In the past we had to walk and sometimes sleep overnight at the stall because it was far from the village. Now things are very different. I can even sell through WhatsApp.
“With the internet, everything is possible — customers can order and pay online, which really helps small traders like us,” she said.
Abdullah
For Abdullah Apil, 55, a taxi driver from Kampung Padang 2, better roads and internet services have also been a game-changer.
“With better roads, we can take passengers anywhere without difficulty. And with phones and the internet, we don’t need to wait in the sun or rain in the car anymore.
“Customers contact us via WhatsApp, so we can get bookings even while sitting at home. This helps not just drivers but also passengers who need our services,” he said.
However, Abdullah and other residents hope the government will continue to develop the island, especially in resolving the recent electricity supply issues.
Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil, during his visit to the island on Aug 10, said the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) has the potential to become a catalyst for digital economic development on Pulau Banggi.
He said the initiative provides high-speed internet facilities that will help curb rural-to-urban migration and improve the quality of life for the local community.
“NADI plays a crucial role in bringing Sabah into the digital era by providing internet access, digital skills training and information access to rural communities that have long been left behind in mainstream development,” he said.
Fahmi said the Starlink technology deployed at NADI Pulau Banggi delivers high-speed internet of up to 100 Mbps, opening new opportunities for locals to participate in the digital economy.
“With this facility, young people in Pulau Banggi no longer need to migrate to Kota Kinabalu or Kuala Lumpur, as they can harness digital expertise to generate income from their hometown,” he said.
Fahmi also announced that the Pulau Banggi NADI initiative, part of the NADI Malaysia Digital Inclusion Project, was named the winner of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2025 in the Capacity Building category.
This international recognition, he said, affirms the government’s commitment to ensuring no community is left behind in the nation’s digitalisation drive, in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya policy. – Bernama
The police station on Pulau Banggi. – Bernama photo
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