Hajiji meets security personnel during the visit to Sipadan Island.
SEMPORNA (May 7): Comprehensive planning, including upgrading existing facilities, is needed to transform Semporna into a premier tourism district while expanding its potential in the blue economy sector, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
He said the district is unique for its world-renowned tourist destinations, particularly Sipadan Island, as well as other islands that continue to attract visitors.
Hajiji noted that Semporna also has strong fisheries and marine resources that can be further developed through the blue economy, which is expected to generate significant returns for the people and the state.
“Semporna is not only about tourism, but its fisheries and marine resources are also truly outstanding.
“Plans have been outlined to maintain cleanliness and improve facilities such as jetties and other amenities on the islands,” he told reporters after attending a district development briefing during his visit to Mataking Island here.
The visit was held in conjunction with his security inspection tour of the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESS Zone), which began in Sandakan on Tuesday, continued in Lahad Datu on Wednesday and concluded in Semporna.
He said Semporna’s tourism potential could become a valuable treasure not only for Sabah but also for Malaysia if properly preserved and developed.
“We need to do our best to further improve facilities and support development in Semporna, Lahad Datu and Sandakan,” he added.
On the blue economy agenda, Hajiji said the sector has been outlined under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 blueprint as a key initiative to increase state revenue.
“We will explore blue economy resources over the next five years, and hopefully it will become an economic driver that benefits the state and the people,” he said.
Earlier, he said his visits to island clusters in Semporna, Sandakan and Lahad Datu were aimed at assessing security conditions along Sabah’s east coast and inspecting security control posts, in addition to receiving development briefings.
He also visited Sipadan Island for a briefing by Sabah Parks and witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony for a security post on Ligitan Island.
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