Boom times for Kunak as Sabah govt plans 15-year transformation for east coast
Speaking during the groundbreaking ceremony, Masidi said the multi-phase project, estimated to take five to 15 years to complete, reflects strong investor confidence and aligns with the State's Sabah Maju Jaya strategic plan. The development comprises three key components: commercial, residential and light industrial zones.
'I'm confident this new township will become a nucleus for economic activity in Kunak and create more opportunities for the district to move forward, like other new towns in Sabah,' he told reporters.
Located near the Pan Borneo Highway and Jalan Kunak Spur, the township is also expected to enhance tourism and support local products, potentially reaching markets beyond the district.
Masidi noted the strong commitment from local leaders and urged all agencies and stakeholders to play their part in realising the vision for Kunak as a strategic growth hub.
He also commended the area's natural beauty, highlighting his visit to the increasingly popular Tasik Impian, surrounded by virgin forest in Mostyn.
Amazing Synergy Realty Sdn Bhd Director, Chia Seong Pow, said the 107-acre development will offer a holistic township concept with zones for transit and commerce including shop lots, a hypermarket, hotel, cinema, modern bus terminal and petrol station.
The residential area will include 288 terrace homes in two phases and 83 residential lots with community facilities, while 37 industrial lots will cater to light and medium industries, fostering local employment and entrepreneurship.
Also present were Kunak Assemblywoman Datuk Norazlinah Arif, Kunak District Officer Majaran Osman and District Council CEO Mohd Nazri Pintal.
'This is a golden opportunity. Kunak sits strategically between Tawau, Semporna and Lahad Datu – making it ideal for long-term development,' Masidi added. — Daily Express
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
an hour ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Malaysia must pioneer cross-border TVET training, says Zahid
Deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called for insightful discussions on skills mismatch, the rising demand for digital and green talent, and driving innovation. KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysia must be a pioneer in cross-border apprenticeship programmes within Asean to boost regional integration, says deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. He said this is one way the regional bloc will shape a workforce that is 'inclusive, future-ready and poised to lead the global technical and vocational education and training industry'. 'A student from the Philippines can train in Malaysia, an Indonesian in Vietnam, and a Thai graduate in Singapore, turning Asean integration into a living reality through the movement of skills and knowledge. 'And perhaps, from this very gathering, we can establish a new regional movement – the Asean Green and Digital Skills Task Force,' he said at the Asean TVET Conference here today. Zahid, who is also the chairman of the National TVET Council, said such a task force would unite Asean with 'concrete actions, measurable targets and mutual support' to cultivate the talent needed by the region. The two-day conference, jointly hosted by the Human Resource Development Corporation and Skills Development Fund Corporation, seeks to provide a dynamic platform to facilitate knowledge exchange, foster innovation, and build strategic partnerships in support of Asean's digital and green transformation. It is also one of the flagship platforms of the Asean Year of Skills 2025, an initiative under Malaysia's Asean chairmanship to accelerate skills development, promote regional mobility, and prepare the Asean workforce for emerging economic and technological shifts. Zahid also called for insightful discussions on skills mismatch, the rising demand for digital and green talent, and driving innovation. 'I have instructed my officers to capture these insights because I will not allow this to be mere dialogue. 'It must spark policies that meet market needs, open opportunities for all, make employers true partners, and fast-track cutting-edge learning,' he said. In June, Bernama reported Zahid as saying student enrolment in TVET institutions rose to 436,285 last year, with 53.5% of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders opting for TVET pathways. Asean development of EV industry Speaking at the conference, human resources minister Steven Sim noted that OpenAI last week launched its GPT-5 artificial intelligence system, which he said can deliver information of a higher order and faster 'than a PhD expert'. 'This has confirmed our suspicion for the past few years. AI replaces conventional academically-trained personnel,' he said. Sim said AI can write code, produce high-level designs, solve complicated maths and generate speeches and other expert statements. However, he said, the world still needs those who can build, repair, operate, communicate, supervise and organise, making it necessary for Asean to have a more collaborative approach towards the 21st century economy. He said such collaboration may be seen in the electric vehicle industry, for example. 'We should leverage our core competencies to develop an Asean EV industry, rather than have a zero-sum competition to the bottom,' he said.
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
MB: Johor leads Malaysia's data centre investment, 42 projects worth RM164.45b approved as of Q2 2025
JOHOR BAHRU, Aug 13 — Johor has emerged as the nation's leading data centre investment hub with 42 projects worth RM164.45 billion approved as of the second quarter (2Q) this year. Johor Menteri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi said these projects are expected to create over 6,000 quality job opportunities and contribute 78.6 per cent of the country's operational IT capacity. He also stated that Johor is targeting to house six per cent of Malaysia's data centre capacity by the year 2030. 'In line with this development, the state government aspires to position Johor as a leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and the nation's digital economy. This will be achieved through the integration of smart technologies in public services, enhancing the competitiveness of industries, and building an inclusive and sustainable digital ecosystem so that the benefits of technology can be enjoyed by all levels of society,' he said in a Facebook post. He added that the combination of large-scale data centre infrastructure, advances in AI technology, and progressive government policies will further position Johor as a potential regional digital innovation hub. 'This initiative will not only drive economic growth but also improve the quality of life for the people of Johor through high-skilled job opportunities, the development of new industries, and smart solutions to everyday challenges,' he said. In the same post, Onn Hafiz also shared that he met with Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo to discuss the direction of the state's digital development at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) in Kuala Lumpur today. He said the meeting served as an important platform to strengthen Johor's role in the Data Centre Task Force (DCTF) and ensure that data centre development is carried out comprehensively, sustainably, and with real impact for the people. — Bernama
Malay Mail
2 hours ago
- Malay Mail
Bangladesh chief adviser Muhammad Yunus returns home after three-day official visit to Malaysia
SEPANG, Aug 13 — Chief Adviser to the Government of Bangladesh Dr Muhammad Yunus left for home today after concluding a three-day official visit to Malaysia, at the invitation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. Muhammad Yunus was accorded a red carpet ceremonial send-off at the Bunga Raya Complex here, with a guard of honour mounted by the First Battalion of the Royal Malay Regiment led by Captain Muhammad Asyraf Zulkifli. The commercial aircraft carrying Muhammad Yunus and his delegation departed for Bangladesh at 7.24 pm. Earlier, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail presented the Nobel Peace Prize laureate with a commemorative photo album of his visit. In a joint press conference with Anwar yesterday, Muhammad Yunus expressed deep appreciation and thanked Malaysia for its continued support and hospitality towards Bangladeshi workers over the years. Malaysia and Bangladesh also sealed eight memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements aimed at deepening bilateral ties across a wide range of sectors, including defence, energy, higher education, diplomacy, halal development, and private sector cooperation. In 2024, total trade between Malaysia and Bangladesh reached RM13.35 billion (USD2.92 billion), an increase of 5.1 per cent compared with 2023. Bangladesh is Malaysia's second-largest trading partner and export destination in South Asia. Major Malaysian exports include petroleum products, palm oil and chemicals, while imports from Bangladesh comprise textiles, footwear, petroleum products and manufactures. Malaysia and Bangladesh established diplomatic ties in 1972. — Bernama
