Sabah named ‘Malaysia's Most Outstanding State' for 2024
PETALING JAYA : Sabah has made its mark by being named 'Malaysia's Most Outstanding State' for 2024 at the International Business Review (IBR) Asean Awards 2025.
Former Petagas assemblyman James Ligunjang said that for the first time, the awards extended recognition to state governments, acknowledging exceptional leadership and accomplishments at the state level alongside corporate achievements.
Ligunjang said in a statement that under chief minister Hajiji Noor's leadership, Sabah had received the highest honour for implementing the Sabah Maju Jaya development framework.
The framework centres on four pillars: championing Sabah's rights, leading with integrity and efficiency, fostering development aligned with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, and maintaining unity among the state's diverse communities.
He said key achievements that contributed to the recognition include an increase in federal special grants from RM26 million in 2022 to RM600 million in 2025, and a 47% rise in foreign tourist arrivals, boosting the state's revenue.
Other highlights include a substantial stake in oil and gas revenues from the commercial cooperation agreement with Petronas, yielding over RM3 billion in 2023, as well as foreign investments soaring from RM132 million in 2023 to over RM1 billion in 2024.
Ligunjang also cited progress on the Pan-Borneo Highway, linking major cities and rural areas, as a key achievement by the state.
He said that Azman Ujang, a chief judge of the awards, also highlighted Sabah's potential in economic development and environmental sustainability.
'He noted increased foreign investment interest, with investments rising from RM132.7 million in 2023 to RM1.07 billion in 2024, and praised the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park's record-high occupancy rate of 90% with 288 active investors.
'Sabah also achieved the highest manufacturing sector growth rate in Malaysia at 4.4% in 2023,' Ligunjang said.
He said Azman had also emphasised the state's focus on human capital development and environmental conservation, with 62% of Sabah's land, amounting to 4.6 million hectares, declared free of logging, as part of long-term sustainability strategies.
The official awards ceremony is scheduled to be held on July 19, at the Sabah International Convention Centre, Kota Kinabalu, with Hajiji expected to attend as an honorary guest.
Ligunjang said the award was announced by the event's secretariat, which also honoured Negeri Sembilan as Malaysia's 'Most Progressive State' for 2024.
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