Kota Kinabalu: PM Anwar lauded Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor’s Blue Economy initiative which has been incorporated into the 13th Malaysia Plan.
“For the past two years, especially last year, Hajiji repeatedly mentioned the Blue Economy to me,” Anwar said at the National Farmers, Breeders and Fishermen Day closing ceremony at Sabah International Convention Centre, Sunday.
Advertisement
“I know about the Blue Economy, but I see that Sabah is so committed and we have embraced this thinking and found ways to collaborate between the Federal and State governments because this creates strength,” he said, praising Hajiji’s forward-thinking leadership in championing sustainable economic development.
The Blue Economy concept encompasses various sectors including fisheries, agriculture, solar energy and green energy from sea, land and air.
Anwar credited Hajiji for driving this transformative approach which has now gained national recognition and adoption.
He also pointed out the importance of unity and cooperation between Federal and State for Malaysia’s progress.
“To make our country successful, let us work together. If we want to elevate dignity, for the sake of Sabah and all of Malaysia’s states, let us cooperate, give way and jointly raise our country’s interests,” he said.
Anwar also spoke about how this collaborative approach has already yielded results in agricultural production and pointed out Malaysia’s unexpected success in producing onions, chili and most recently, avocados that were previously heavily imported.
“Who would have thought that Malaysia, through Sabah’s fertile land and State Government cooperation, could produce avocados, a fruit that attracts attention and has high demand and now the results are effective,” he said.
He noted that Malaysia’s import bill for agricultural products had reached over RM50 billion, making domestic production initiatives even more important for the nation’s food security and economic stability.
“The success in producing previously imported crops demonstrates what can be achieved through focused cooperation between various agencies including Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, the Department of Agriculture and Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority,” he said.
He said the current Federal Government operates under strict principles of service rather than exploitation.
“The current Federal Government leadership has set conditions whereby we cannot take interests, whether land, timber or shares from the states. We come to serve the states. There are no conflicts between the Federal and State governments,” he said.
He also noted that farmers, breeders and fishermen form the core majority of Malaysia’s population and require a peaceful nation, stable government and complete cooperation between federal and state levels.
“States cannot work separately. The Federal government cannot work separately. The better our cooperation, the better it is for the people.”
He expressed confidence that the Blue Economy approach, born from Sabah’s initiative but now adopted nationally, will serve as a model for sustainable development across Malaysia.
He credited this shift to the focused attention and close cooperation between government levels, setting a new paradigm for how federal-state partnerships can drive meaningful economic transformation.
