Sipitang poised for growth as strategic economic, tourism hub
SIPITANG (April 25): The strategic location of Sipitang — situated at the border of Sarawak, Brunei Darussalam, and Sabah — positions the district as having significant potential to be developed into an economic and tourism hub.
Assistant Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Isnin Aliasnih, highlighted that this geographical advantage places Sipitang on the right track to becoming one of the state's key economic growth drivers.
'Sipitang's strategic position as a cross-border gateway between Sarawak, Brunei Darussalam, and Sabah makes it one of the districts with great potential to be explored as a hub for economic and tourism development,' he said.
He made the statement during the swearing-In and appointment ceremony for Sipitang District Council members for the 2025–2027 term, at the Hilton Hotel on Monday.
During the event, 17 individuals were officially appointed as members of the Sipitang District Council. They will be responsible for planning and implementing development initiatives at the local level.
Isnin urged the newly appointed council members to carry out their duties with full responsibility and dedication to ensure effective execution of development plans.
He noted that Sipitang is rich in cultural and local heritage, such as the GATA Festival, and is blessed with natural beauty and fertile agricultural resources.
'The combination of heritage value, abundant natural resources, and strategic location makes Sipitang a district with immense potential for more aggressive development,' he said.
According to Isnin, regional developments — particularly Indonesia's move to relocate its capital to Kalimantan — are expected to impact border areas such as Sipitang, Kalabakan and Nabawan directly.
He stressed the importance of taking this shift seriously, as it is likely to spur rapid cross-border economic activity. To prepare, he emphasised the need to prioritise infrastructure, border security and logistics facilities.
'Our neighbour, Brunei Darussalam, has already built several Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes in anticipation of increased cross-border movement,' he said, adding that Sabah should adopt a similar approach to avoid being left behind.
Isnin stated that cooperation from all sectors — including the government, relevant agencies, communities, and the private sector — is essential in realising Sipitang's development goals.
'With a spirit of unity, we can elevate Sipitang to a higher level as a strategic economic hub in Sabah,' he said.
Also present at the ceremony were Sindumin assemblyman Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob; Sipitang Member of Parliament Datuk Matbali Musah; District Officer and Chairman of the Sipitang District Council, Abdul Karim A. M. Zahari; Sipitang District Police Chief Awang Anak Suanda; Chief Executive Officer of the Sipitang District Council Hamsad Abdul Wahid; and Assistant Administrative Officer (Operations) from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, Mohd Syahril Bakar.
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