SANDAKAN: The organisation of a fruit festival in this district should be included in the district’s annual events calendar, said Sungai Manila assemblyman Hazem Mubarak Musa.
He said such programmes provide opportunities for farmers as well as small and micro-scale traders to market their agricultural produce and locally grown fruits.
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“I see fruit festivals like this as aligned with the government’s agenda to strengthen the people’s economy, particularly for small traders, farmers and micro-entrepreneurs,” he said.
Hazem emphasised that apart from generating local economic activity, the programme could attract visitors from within and outside the district to Sandakan.
From an urban development perspective, he said the festival also has the potential to be developed into an annual event identified with Sandakan and serve as one of the town’s tourism attractions.
He noted that the combination of agriculture, business, culture and community elements could draw visitors while contributing to local economic growth.
Hazem also expressed appreciation to the Sandakan Municipal Council (MPS) and its strategic partners for organising the event, as well as to traders and participants involved in the festival.
He was speaking at a press conference after officiating the Sandakan Local Fruit Festival 2026 at The Piazza Harbour Mall in Sandakan town on Sunday.
Hazem is also Sawit Kinabalu Sdn Bhd and Borneo Samudera Sdn Bhd Chairman.
Also present were Sandakan MP Vivian Wong Shir Yee, Senator Anna Bell Perian and MPS president Walter Kenson, among others.
Awards for Best Creative Stall, Best Informative Stall and Best Variety Stall were presented during the event.
Meanwhile, Walter said a total of 48 stalls were opened throughout the three-day programme, involving traders, association representatives and related agricultural agencies.
He said the programme reflected the state’s development agenda under the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 framework, which places agriculture and tourism as key sectors of economic development.
“The programme was also designed as a platform to connect the agriculture and tourism sectors through a community-based, entrepreneurial and local economic approach,” he said.
Walter added that MPS is planning to identify new sites for tamu, hawkers and night markets to provide more selling opportunities for agricultural producers in the district.
He said MPS would also introduce a policy requiring at least 50 per cent of goods sold at markets, tamu and night markets to be agricultural produce.
According to him, MPS is also working to revitalise Sandakan town centre by organising more fruit-based events to encourage residents to return to the urban area.
In addition, he said stalls have been opened along the stretch from Batu 8 to Batu 32 to enable rural residents to sell their agricultural produce in Sandakan.
