logo
Energy sector continues to be critical for Sabah's growth, says CM

Energy sector continues to be critical for Sabah's growth, says CM

The Star24-04-2025

KOTA KINABALU: The energy sector has always, and will continue to, play a critical role in Sabah's future development, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said Sabah is endowed with an abundance of renewable energy sources that has the potential to offer strong prospects of contributing significantly to both the state and nation's transformation into a high value-added economy.
Taking this into consideration, he said the state government has, among others, launched the Sabah Energy Roadmap and Master Plan 2040 (Sabah Energy RAMP 2040), which was aimed at charting the way forward and outlining key priorities for the state energy sector.
'With this in place, Sabah should be able to fully develop its green energy sector with the potential of providing up to 75% of the nation's green energy supply,' said Hajiji when officiating the Sabah Renewable Energy Conference 2025 (SAREC 2025) here on Thursday (April 24).
Hajiji's speech was delivered by state Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
'The energy sector has been a critical engine of growth for Sabah's economy over the past decades, contributing significantly to the state's economy,' Hajiji said.
'It is my aspiration to see Sabah's energy sector continuing to grow whilst contributing to positive social outcomes to uplift the quality of life of the people,' he said.
He said the state has been aggressively pushing its agenda in encouraging renewable energy and the development of clean energy by implementing programmes that would help promote economic activities and accelerate economic growth to ultimately shape and strengthen Sabah's renewable energy and green industry sector.
Sabah will continue to develop the necessary infrastructure related to the energy sector, said Hajiji, adding that the state has been steadfast in its pursuit of taking control and managing the state's energy resources to empower Sabah.
It is also aimed at developing and continuously growing the energy sector more effectively and efficiently,' he said.
He said the state government looked forward to the continued cooperation and support of all stakeholders in driving Sabah towards a greener and more sustainable future.
Earlier, Hajiji said the state government had identified a new economic sector - the Blue Economy - that involves sustainable exploration of Sabah's incredible marine and coastal resources.
The State Legislative Assembly approved the new Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) Enactment 2024 in April last year, paving the way for the development of OTEC as a new source of renewable energy and as one of the initiatives under the Blue Economy.
Speaking about the event, he commended Qhazanah Sabah Berhad and the Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd for bringing SAREC 2025 to fruition.
'The state government is ready to collaborate with all stakeholders to unite efforts, exchange ideas, and explore solutions,' he said.
In a press conference, Masidi said that OTEC was a very new avenue to venture into, where only a limited number of countries including Japan have started exploring this industry.
'It will take time for it to see some form of fruition because it's a new source of energy and we have a long way to go but we need to start somewhere, somehow,' he said.
'You talk about renewable energy but we can't just fold our hands and wait, we have to start somewhere somehow,' he stressed.
Also present during the one-day conference were Datuk Ahmad Rizal Dahlia, the chief executive officer of Qhazanah Sabah Bhd, and Malaysian Rating Corporation Bhd group chief executive officer Arshad Mohamed Ismail.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

‘Solo or coalition' decision July
‘Solo or coalition' decision July

Daily Express

timea day ago

  • Daily Express

‘Solo or coalition' decision July

Published on: Wednesday, June 11, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jun 11, 2025 By: Mohd Nazllie Zainul Text Size: Masidi at the launching SMJ Energy's Education CSR Programme at SMK Kanibongan in Pitas, yesterday. Kota Kinabalu: The question of whether the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) will contest solo in the imminent 17th State Election (PRN17) or maintain its partnership with Pakatan Harapan (PH) is expected to be answered by early July at the latest, said GRS Sec-Gen Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun. He said the decision would likely be finalised during the GRS Supreme Council meeting, which is expected to convene either later this month or early next month. Advertisement Masidi also confirmed that although GRS has yet to make an official decision on its election strategy, GRS Chairman cum Sabah's Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor has met with leaders of the coalition's component parties and held informal talks with PH leaders. 'We haven't made a final decision yet because the Supreme Council has not met. However, I believe the President has already met with all the component party presidents. 'I'm confident he has also held informal discussions with PH leaders. One thing is certain—if not this month, then by early next month we will know,' he told the media in Pitas on Tuesday. The GRS Supreme Council is composed of the presidents of the coalition's eight component parties: Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat), GRS, PBS, Star Sabah, SAPP, Usno, Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah, Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS). 'He (Hajiji) has indicated that GRS is inclined to continue the PH-GRS cooperation, which has formed the foundation of the unity government in both Sabah and Putrajaya. 'If I'm not mistaken, the Chief Minister has repeatedly emphasised his desire for the PH-GRS cooperation to continue in the coming election. 'The main reason is to ensure political stability,' he said. It was reported that Sabah Pakatan may agree to a seat-sharing formula with GRS and Sabah Barisan helmed by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin. However, GRS and Sabah Barisan are expected to cross swords as there is no love lost between Hajiji and Bung, following a failed attempt by the latter to unseat the GRS government last January. Bung had pulled Sabah Barisan out of the GRS coalition in 2023 after a fallout with Hajiji. Bung is said to be courting other parties like Parti Warisan led by Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal and Parti Kesejahteraan Demokratik Masyarakat (KDM) led by Priscella Peter, the daughter of its jailed president Datuk Peter Anthony. But Warisan and KDM do not seem keen on any tie-up, with both publicly stating their intention to go it solo. GRS component parties like Sabah STAR, SAPP and Usno prefer GRS to go solo, although Hajiji was inclined to work with Sabah Pakatan. Warisan has decided to opt out of any pact in Sabah although it is a partner of the federal unity government. Some predict that KDM could seal a pact with either Barisan or Warisan if they get the number and choices of seats, with the party eyeing at least 18 Kadazandusun, Murut and Rungus seats. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia

At times, stability trumps wanting to always win, says Sabah Umno No 2
At times, stability trumps wanting to always win, says Sabah Umno No 2

Free Malaysia Today

time2 days ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

At times, stability trumps wanting to always win, says Sabah Umno No 2

Sabah Umno deputy chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan, who is said to be keen on rebuilding ties with GRS, has clashed with state Umno chairman Bung Moktar Radin several times now. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA : Sabah Umno deputy chief Abdul Rahman Dahlan has made a cryptic post on 'stability' and 'wanting to always be the victor' amid speculation over the party's alliances for the upcoming Sabah election. 'There are times when stability is far more important than wanting to be seen as the victor in every clash. Choose the right approach to confrontations,' the former Kota Belud MP said in a Facebook post. Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Harapan (PH) have announced a pact for the state election, while talks were said to be ongoing to rope Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) into the alliance. However, last week, Sabah Umno chief Bung Moktar Radin said the state chapter will not work with GRS for the polls. He added that any possible cooperation will only be considered after the outcome of the state election. GRS chairman Hajiji Noor, who is also Sabah chief minister, said the ruling state coalition has yet to decide on its alliances for the election. Last month, Hajiji said the existing alliance between GRS and PH, both of which form the state government, should be continued in the state election. Bung and his Sabah Umno deputy have clashed several times in the past few years, with Rahman said to be keen on rebuilding ties between his party and GRS. While Sabah Umno and GRS used to be allies in the state government, Bung led his party in retracting support for Hajiji as chief minister in January 2023. Sabah PH then gave Hajiji its backing to allow him to stay on as chief minister.

Sabah parties gear up for polls
Sabah parties gear up for polls

The Star

time3 days ago

  • The Star

Sabah parties gear up for polls

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah's political parties are gearing up for the 17th state election amid a flurry of possible electoral pacts, but firm deals have yet to materialise. Major players, including the ruling Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) and its former ally-turned-rival Barisan Nasional, are preparing to go it alone if ongoing negotiations with potential partners fail. Observers say GRS, led by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, and Sabah Barisan, led by Datuk Seri Bung Moktar Radin, are ready to go it alone if they fail to strike a deal with other political blocs. Parti Warisan, under Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, is staying out of any alliance talks, positioning itself as the alternative to both coalitions with its multiracial party platform. The coming election is expected to be shaped by a growing 'Sabah for Sabahans' sentiment, with voters increasingly drawn to local-based parties championing state rights and autonomy. This political mood has fuelled support for both Warisan and GRS in recent years while putting pressure on national coalitions to localise their campaign narrative. Hajiji, who is seen as preferring to continue cooperation with Sabah Pakatan Harapan (Pakatan), stated yesterday that GRS was ready to face the election, with its machinery fully trained across all constituencies. However, any pact will still require the endorsement of GRS' eight-party coalition. He added that no seat talks had taken place and that any cooperation must go through the GRS Supreme Council. CLICK TO ENLARGE So far, Sabah STAR, led by Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan; SAPP under former chief minister Datuk Yong Teck Lee; and Usno, led by former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia, have been adamant that GRS should contest all 73 seats on its own. These parties have pushed back against external collaborations for various reasons – Sabah STAR wants internal seat distribution settled first, SAPP rejects the involvement of national parties, and Usno has demanded greater respect and fair seat allocation, warning it may walk away from the coalition if sidelined. Given that at least eight assemblymen, including four ministers from Hajiji's Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), are embroiled in a bribery scandal involving mining licence approvals, the ruling coalition must carefully navigate any potential pact with Pakatan to reach a mutually agreeable seat-sharing formula. Any potential deal between GRS and Pakatan is expected to hinge on the local bloc being allowed to contest at least 53 to 55 of the 73 seats at stake. GRS, Sabah Pakatan and Sabah Barisan have not publicly disclosed the seats they are targeting. Some observers believe that even if an agreement is reached, some seats could still be left open to free-for-all contests. Meanwhile, Sabah Pakatan is also exploring a separate seat-sharing formula with Sabah Barisan to remain aligned with the federal-level unity government. At the national level, leaders from both coalitions have expressed support for working together in Sabah. Pakatan chairman Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, speaking at the PKR congress in Johor Baru on May 24, said, 'I have discussed the matter with Barisan Nasional and Umno chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Gabungan Rakyat Sabah chairman Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 'We will work together on the condition that Pakatan Harapan is recognised as a partner to fight for the people of Sabah.' Anwar has appointed Sabah Pakatan chairman cum Upko president Datuk Ewon Benedick to lead coordination efforts for the state election. By placing a Sabahan face at the forefront, Pakatan appears to be repackaging itself to appeal to local sentiments, positioning the coalition as part of Sabah rather than just a federal extension. However, political observers observe that while national leaders are advocating for unity, Sabah leaders seem to be following a different path. GRS comprises eight local parties: PGRS (Gagasan Rakyat), Sabah STAR, SAPP, Usno, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Parti Cinta Sabah (PCS), Parti Bersatu Sabah (PBS), and Parti Harapan Rakyat Sabah (PHRS). Barisan comprises peninsula-based parties such as Umno, MCA and MIC, along with its Sabah component, Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah (PBRS). Pakatan consists of PKR, DAP, Amanah and Upko. The 17th Sabah state election must be held following the dissolution of the state assembly, which is due by 11 Nov, 2025. Speculation is rife that Hajiji may dissolve the assembly as early as the third week of July, after the official celebration of the Yang di-Pertua Negri's birthday on June 21.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store