Salleh (BN-Usukan) said firstly, Sabah must focus on attracting high-quality investments from foreign and domestic companies through various investment strategies and policy initiatives amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Secondly, in order to transform Sabah into a competitive economy, the state must increase its productivity level,” he said when debating the state budget 2022.

This, he added, involved developing more high-value downstream activities and creating new industries through active private sector involvement.

“For example, we need to increase the quantity and quality of our food production in order to process high-value downstream food products for domestic consumption and the export market.”

The third measure, Salleh said, was for the state to improve the ease of doing business in Sabah.

He added that this was to facilitate domestic investment and make Sabah an investment destination of choice for foreign investors.

For example, the government could establish Sabah Incorporated as a one-stop agency for investment, he said.

“We must make it easy for investors to get into Sabah as well as facilitate easier relocation of factories to the state,” he said.

In addition, Salleh urged the state government to adopt the “Sabah First” concept as well as control the export and supply of raw materials and resources.

He also highlighted the importance of a Sabah economic autonomy policy whereby legal, policy and investment approval decisions could be made at the state government level.