Kota Kinabalu: POIC Sabah Chairman Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau wants every government ministry, department and agency to shed the silo mentality and work together as “Team Sabah” to support investors and accelerate the State’s industrial development.
The Tuaran Member of Parliament said the call for greater inter-agency coordination comes amid growing concern over the exodus of Sabahan youths leaving the State in search of better employment opportunities.
“This situation cannot continue if we are serious about retaining talent and building a stronger future for Sabah,” said Madius, who is also Tamparuli Assemblyman, at the opening of a three-day corporate culture workshop in Lahad Datu.
He pointed to disparity between Sabah and more industrialised states, noting that while Penang, Johor and Selangor each derive more than 30 per cent of their Gross Domestic Product from the industrial sector, Sabah’s industrial contribution has remained stagnant at approximately 7.2 per cent.
“This indicates that Sabah still possesses tremendous untapped industrial potential that must be urgently developed,” he said.
The workshop, which drew about 100 participants, including POIC Sabah board members and staff, state and federal agency representatives, and industry players, was officiated by Deputy Chief Minister III cum State Industry, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister Datuk Ewon Benedick.
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Madius said for Sabah’s industrial parks to remain attractive to investors, the overall cost of doing business must stay competitive.
This means ensuring a reliable supply of utilities such as electricity and water, as well as efficient logistics and transportation infrastructure to support industrial operations and exports.
He noted that the Sabah Government has already taken steps in the right direction, including granting Free Zone status to POIC Lahad Datu, which provides tax incentives to investors.
“The time has come for all stakeholders to work cohesively with a common purpose as Team Sabah to accelerate economic transformation, strengthen investor confidence and create sustainable employment and business opportunities for the people of Sabah,” he said, adding the task cannot rest on any single ministry or agency alone.
Meanwhile, POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd Group Chief Executive Officer Datuk Fredian Gan said POIC Sabah is aggressively marketing the industrial park to attract high-impact manufacturing investors, with success hinging on close collaboration across all government agencies.
“To make this a success, POIC Sabah and all related government agencies must stand together as Team Sabah to position our industrial parks as preferred destinations for strategic investors,” he said.
Among the initiatives currently being explored are an oil and gas support ecosystem, high-value bioeconomy industries, ESG-driven projects, a green automated port, a green trucking ecosystem, POIC’s own power infrastructure and centres of excellence for renewable energy and bio-economy.
Fredian added that POIC Sabah is also looking into developing a regional data centre ecosystem to strengthen Sabah’s long-term economic resilience and industrial competitiveness.
