Replying to a supplementary question by Moyog assemblyman Darell Leiking in the state assembly today, he said the government would study his suggestion that the state reject the law as it inhibited Sabah’s control over its continental shelf.
Leiking had asked how Sabah could restart its economy if its marine industry, continental shelf, and sea waters were still under the control of the National Disaster Council.
“I will take note of the proposal and will study it. That’s all I can say here today,” Hajiji said.
“We will take note of all proposals, especially those related to Sabah’s rights.”
The TSA is one of four Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) issues that have remained unresolved, aside from Sabah’s oil and gas resources.
In 2019, the special Cabinet committee meeting set up under the Pakatan Harapan administration, to review and implement MA63 declared it had resolved 17 out of the 21 issues tabled by the Sabah and Sarawak governments.
Leiking, who is Warisan deputy president, had earlier said Sarawak and Kelantan had openly objected to the Act, with the latter approving a motion in its state assembly to reject the law.
The TSA was passed by Parliament in 2012. Essentially, it outlines the limits of the area of sovereignty of the country and its states from the coastline.
While international law limits Malaysian territorial waters to 12 nautical miles (22km) from the coast, the TSA limits the states’ jurisdiction over waters to only three nautical miles (5.5km) from the coast.
Meanwhile, replying to Elopura assemblyman Calvin Chong Ket Kiun earlier, Hajiji said the government would implement 573 initiatives under the first phase of the Sabah Maju Jaya development plan to boost the state’s economy.
He said 145 of these initiatives would focus on the growth of the main economic sectors, such as agriculture, industries, and tourism.
Hajiji said the early effects of this can be seen through the success in attracting investors.
“On March 22 this year, the state government signed a memorandum of understanding with a major producer of coconut-based products.
“This is to develop a high-yield coconut plantation project, with an investment value of RM420 million, and a coconut processing factory in Pitas, with an investment value of RM200 million.
“This initiative will create 3,250 jobs,” he said, adding that focus will also be given to efforts to enhance the contributions of the agriculture, fisheries, and livestock sub-sectors for food security as well as to expand Sabah’s export industry.
As for the manufacturing sector, Hajiji said an investor had pledged to pump in RM4.2 billion to develop the copper foil industry in the state.
He said a factory would be built on a 160ha piece of land at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park near here. It is scheduled to begin operating in 2023 and is expected to create 400 jobs.
“For the tourism sector, the RM7 billion Lok Kawi Resort City will create more than 5,000 jobs when completed,” he said.
Hajiji added that the state government was aware the tourism sector had a direct impact on wholesalers, retailers, food suppliers to the hotel industry as well as farmers or fishermen.
“This means more taxes. So, the state will have aggressive promotions, coordinate programmes for the existing tourism destinations as well as explore new attractions, particularly for domestic guests since we have limited international flights now,” he said.