Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor said an industrial park in Kudat would be strategic given that it already has a port and was closer to key trading nations like China, South Korea and Japan.

“It is crucial that we bring development to this district through the construction of an industrial park, which will undoubtedly benefit the residents and the district,” he said.

Hajiji estimated that about 5,000 acres of land would be needed for the development, and said the state government has identified suitable areas.

“Our concept is not to take the land, but to involve the people who own land in the identified areas,” he said.

He said the state government will further discuss the plan with the Sabah industrial development and entrepreneurship minister and the Kudat MP.

Kudat is represented by independent MP Verdon Bahanda, the brother of Kota Marudu MP Wetrom Bahanda, who is from Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat.