MUSA HEAPS PRAISE PM ON INVESTMENT

KOTA KINABALU : Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has made strides in making Malaysia conducive to business and investments, said Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman.

He said this was possible through the introduction of the New Economic Model and various programmes such as the Government Transformation Programme (GTP) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP).

“Today, we see a private sector driven economy in the form of investment in projects, while the government provides support through infrastructure, and the right framework for doing business.

“As far as Sabah is concerned, we can say with confidence that the state is one of the safest and most conducive places to live, trade with and conduct business in.

“Sabah offers peace and stability and we are constantly working towards improving the government delivery system so that businesses can further flourish,” he said in his remarks in conjunction with the 29th Anniversary ‘Federation of Sabah Manufacturers (FSM) Nite 2012’ dinner, here today. In this respect, he said the state government welcomed genuine investments that create quality and meaningful employment opportunities for locals, while helping boost economic growth.

“That’s why I urge all stakeholders to leverage on our respective strength and expertise, so that we may move forward”, he added.

He said the state government would continue to work with the Federal government on improving policies to facilitate trade and conduct business within Sabah.

“The Barisan Nasional government is pro-business, whereby we encourage the private sector as the engine of growth, and achieve prosperity by transforming Sabah into a regional hub,” he added.

On the role of the FSM, Musa, who is also the state Finance Minister said the trade body, as the voice of manufacturers in the state had done its part in contributing to the development agenda through a host of activities.

This includes, he added, complementing the government’s efforts to promote Sabah-made products to the world and raise the state’s profile as an investment destination.

“In this process, the FSM has gained significant recognition from many local and international trade chambers.

“The theme, ‘Promote Sabah — Hub for the Far East’, speaks of optimism for our state to be lifted to a higher economic status, given its rich resources and strategic location within Asean economies.

“We view FSM as an effective platform for this vision. I urge government agencies and trade chambers to work in unity with the FSM towards achieving this common goal.

“By working together, we can overcome issues related to the cost of doing business and challenges that periodically dampen industrial and economic growth,” Musa said. (Bernama)