Daily Express Subscriber
Sign in to your account.

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat, under the Chief Minister’s Department, received strong praise from the business community after the SMJ 2.0 Forum and Townhall on 17 January 2026 in Tuaran, supported by SYBIL, Malaysia Digital Chamber of Commerce, Malaysia Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, and PEMUDAH – Financial Services Technical Working Group.

The half-day event brought together industry associations, chambers, professional bodies, youth business leaders, SMEs, and policymakers to discuss Sabah’s economic direction for 2026–2030.

Key topics included private sector competitiveness, youth entrepreneurship, venture capital, digital economy, talent development, regulatory efficiency, and investment readiness.

Participants welcomed the open dialogue, emphasizing the need for better policy coordination, faster regulatory processes, clearer implementation of digital and youth initiatives, and structured public-private collaboration.

In response, the SMJ Secretariat promptly established a dedicated Task Force to consolidate feedback, coordinate across agencies, and translate input into actionable policies. The Task Force aims to ensure alignment and timely execution throughout the SMJ 2.0 period.

The forum highlighted a shared commitment between government and industry to build a resilient, competitive, and inclusive Sabah economy, with SYBIL notably contributing through key moderation and support roles.

The outcome of the townhall will be officially launched by the Chief Minister on 30 January 2026.