Sabah needs to integrate regionally with areas under BIMP-EAGA - Minister

Sabah needs to integrate its economy regionally with areas under BIMP-EAGA (Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines - East Asean Growth Area) for it to become more robust and dynamic, said Minister in Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Abdul Rahman, who is in charge of Economic Planning Unit (EPU) portfolio, said the integration with a robust economies under BIMP-EAGA would allow the state to take advantage of economic opportunities in the region, including raw materials for mutual prosperity.

"BIMP-EAGA is an organisation that has been around for so long. It may need to be revamped or new ideas be injected because I think if the Sabah economy is integrated with Indonesia, Brunei Darussalam and Philippines, we might gain from the opportunities which previously do not exist," he said.

Abdul Rahman said this to reporters after a breaking-of-fast event with media practitioners here yesterday.

"We know that Kalimantan has minerals, oil, gas, coal and plantation sector. The economy is quite large and it does have high-end services. The state has small and medium industry that can make use of the raw materials," he said.

He said he has proposed to open one or two border towns (via road) en route to Kalimantan, from Serudong under Kalabakan district.

"With such link, barter trade via land can be strengthened as barter trade by waters pose security issues at present," he said, adding that CIQs (customs, immigration and quarantine) would be set up there.

Abdul Rahman said he has proposed this in the cabinet and Sabah government has responded positively.

"But we need to have a thorough (feasibility) study and I have instructed Asian Development Bank to handle this," he said, adding the full report can be expected in one or two months.