Appointment of Labuan Corporation chairman in final stages, says Dr Zaliha
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, said the matter is in its final stages and will be announced soon.
"We are reviewing qualified candidates and, most importantly, ensuring the next chairman truly understands Labuan's current needs and is capable of driving sustainable economic growth.
"We are not deliberately delaying the appointment, and there's no need to rush to make a decision, as it is not just about simply filling the post — we must look at the merit of the (future) chairman.
"Just a little more patience, as it is already in the final stage. We will make an official announcement on the matter," she said during the Minister's Question Time (MQT) session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
She was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Siti Aminah Aching (BN–Beaufort), who asked about the reasons behind the delay in appointing the Labuan Corporation chairman.
Previously, Dr Zaliha dismissed rumours that Tuaran Member of Parliament, Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau, had been appointed as the new chairman of Labuan Corporation.
She said the federal government, through the Department of Federal Territories, is still in the process of evaluating several qualified candidates for the leadership role.
The post of Labuan Corporation chairman became vacant following former Kimanis MP Tan Sri Anifah Aman concluding his term last month.
Meanwhile, regarding the proposal to make the Labuan International Sea Sports Complex the permanent venue for the Borneo Flora Festival, Dr Zaliha said: "The government is of the view that further assessment is still needed to evaluate its long-term suitability in terms of logistics, accessibility and infrastructure sustainability.
"For example, the Royal Floria Putrajaya only designated Precinct 4 as its permanent location after seven years of organisation, having taken into account various success factors and challenges.
"Given that the Borneo Flora Festival is proposed as a biennial event, the decision on a permanent venue should be made after several editions to ensure it truly meets the requirements for hosting large-scale events on a continuous basis."
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