According to the Daily Express, the chamber’s chairman, Wong Kii Yii, said many were expecting Putrajaya to restore the island’s duty-free status on cigarettes, which was removed in 2021.

Wong also lamented that the budget made no mention of any infrastructure development for Labuan, although Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had announced plans to develop a port on Carey Island in Selangor and Sanglang in Perlis.

“What about the Labuan integrated port at Rancha Rancha which was planned 15 years ago and is much needed for Labuan’s growth?

“The previous government and the transport ministry were reportedly calling for a request for proposal (RFP) from the private sector to undertake the project,” he said.

He also said funds were needed to tackle the “serious water problems” in Labuan, calling for the replacement and upgrade of its network of water pipelines and related facilities.

Wong said it was Putrajaya’s responsibility to develop Labuan into a town with a robust economy, since it was a federal territory.

“We cannot expect Sabah to help in this. Under the present situation, no investor would be interested in looking at the island,” he said.