LABUAN: Labuan Chinese Chamber of Commerce Chairman Datuk Wong Kii Yii congratulated Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor in leading Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) to a second-term rule and said “the affable and moderate leader is the right neighbour for the island.”
“Though Labuan is a Federal Territory and of little concern to Sabah, RM25 million was approved (by the Sabah Government) for the State-linked Asian Supply Base (ASB) to set up a one-stop crew change terminal for oil and gas workers, and bring back the business and help the local economy.”
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The facility, which was actively operated here, was closed during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019, plunging many segments of the economy, mainly hotels, F&B and entertainment, into doldrums.
The new terminal at ASB, which began operations in early 2025 with simplified and centralised operations, helped restore Labuan’s use again,” said Wong.
He said in another case, after strong requests from Labuan to revive the Labuan-Kota Kinabalu direct express boat service, Hajiji’s government had the service re-opened which was closed during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“These are indications of the good ties with Sabah and would continue since there was no change in government,” added Wong.
He also highlighted the multi-billion ringgit projects planned at Sogip (Sabah Oil and Gas Industrial Park) in Sipitang and the reported purchase of nearby Pulau Daat for RM80 million by the main player in Sogip.
“With the comfortable ties with GRS, Labuan is bound to benefit when planned projects move into full gear as Labuan is the nearest major town to Sipitang and in position to serve,” said Wong.
He said with Sabah’s revenue increasing from the 40pc net federal revenue, strong developments are expected in Sabah in the coming years and this would trigger economic spill-overs to Labuan.
Except for the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce, none of the other Chinese chambers nor Chinese associations had officially congratulated the new State Government despite the generous assistance in financial support rendered them before the election.
The just-ended election saw the Chinese community dismantling the presence of the peninsula-based DAP which lost all eight seats to Parti Warisan.
As a result, no Chinese was appointed to the State Cabinet when the line-up was announced.
