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Daily Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah anticipates positive outcome: Meeting of the JKTPA-MA63 on July 14
Published on: Friday, July 11, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jul 11, 2025 Text Size: Hajiji signing the plaque commemorating the opening of the AFFIN Bank Inanam branch on Thursday. Kota Kinabalu: Sabah is anticipating a positive outcome from the upcoming meeting of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council Technical Committee (JKTPA-MA63), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said the meeting on Monday would cover a wide range of matters, all aimed at ensuring benefits for the State. 'The meeting will discuss many things, but it is indeed for a positive outcome. 'This is what I always do whenever I'm in Kuala Lumpur — I meet with the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers and Ministers to discuss the rights of the people of Sabah,' he said after opening a bank at Plaza Kolombong, near here. Last week, State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun had said that Hajiji had sent two letters to the relevant authorities, both as a reminder and an offer for Sabah to host the next JKTPA-MA63 meeting. The committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, has to discuss MA63-related demands before they can be presented to the Federal Cabinet for policy decisions. The last meeting was held on May 28. Earlier, Hajiji said the State Government is committed to shaping a modern, competitive and inclusive economy for Sabah through the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan. 'Under our Hala Tuju SMJ development plan, we are clear in our direction. Our SMJ roadmap aims to shape an economy that is modern, competitive and inclusive, one that uplifts every community, both rural and urban. 'It was crafted to serve as the overarching framework for various sectoral development blueprints. 'Our commitment to Sabah's future is reflected in the Plan, resting on three foundational pillars – first, Agriculture, Industry and Tourism, second, Investing in our people and third, Enhancing Connectivity with a Green Approach. 'We are not simply building an economy, we are building a shared future, where the benefits of progress are felt across every district, including here in Inanam,' he said. The Chief Minister said no economy can thrive without financial inclusion. 'A strong, accessible and inclusive banking system is essential to unlock the full potential of our people and businesses. In Sabah, 98 per cent of all businesses are SMEs, the engine of local enterprise and employment. 'But many of these businesses still face real barriers: limited access to credit, lack of digital readiness and difficulty in navigating changing markets,' he said, adding banks can help close this gap, through targeted financing for sectors such as agriculture and eco-tourism, mentoring and advisory support, dedicated financing for women entrepreneurs and financial literacy programmes that prepare Sabahans, especially youths, for the demands of today's economy. 'We believe that every Sabahan should be empowered with the financial tools and support to grow, save, build and contribute to our economy. 'We recognise that meaningful development must begin with access to capital, financial services and the tools that enable entrepreneurship and upward mobility. 'For our rural communities, small businesses and youth stepping into the digital economy, it must enable progress and unlock potential,' he said. * 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
New Straits Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Sabah hopes for positive outcome from upcoming MA63 technical committee meeting
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah is anticipating a positive outcome from the upcoming meeting of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council Technical Committee (JKTPA-MA63), said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. He said the meeting would cover a wide range of matters, all aimed at ensuring benefits for the state. "The meeting will discuss many things, but it is indeed for a positive outcome. "This is what I always do whenever I'm in Kuala Lumpur — I meet with the prime minister, deputy prime ministers and ministers to discuss the rights of the people of Sabah," he said after opening a bank at Plaza Kolombong near here. Last week, state Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun had said that Hajiji had sent two letters to the relevant authorities, both as a reminder and an offer for Sabah to host the next JKTPA-MA63 meeting. The committee, which is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof, has to discuss MA63-related demands before they can be presented to the federal cabinet for policy decisions. The last meeting was held on May 28. Earlier, Hajiji said the state government is committed to shaping a modern, competitive and inclusive economy for Sabah through the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan. He added that no economy can thrive without financial inclusion. "A strong, accessible, and inclusive banking system is essential to unlock the full potential of our people and businesses. "In Sabah, 98 per cent of all businesses are SMEs, the engine of local enterprise and employment. "But many of these businesses still face real barriers: limited access to credit, lack of digital readiness, and difficulty in navigating changing markets. "We believe that every Sabahan should be empowered with the financial tools and support to grow, save, build, and contribute to our economy," he said, adding that banking institutions could help close this gap.
New Straits Times
03-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
MA63 technical committee meeting set for July 15 in Sabah
KOTA KINABALU: The Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) Implementation Action Council Technical Committee (JKTPA-MA63) meeting is scheduled to take place on July 15 in Sabah. State Finance Minister Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun has dismissed claims that Sabah has been dragging its feet on the matter. He said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor had sent two letters to the relevant authorities, both as a reminder and an offer for Sabah to host the next JKTPA-MA63 meeting. The committee is chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof. On May 28, a meeting was held between the MA63 Technical Committee and both the Sabah and Sarawak governments. "It is not accurate to say that we've been quiet or have forgotten about it. "But I think the deputy prime minister probably requested a change of date as he was unable to attend on June 30," he said, adding that the new tentative date is July 15. Masidi was speaking to reporters after the SMJ Energy Networking dinner last night. The meeting is aimed at enforcing Sabah's entitlement to 40 per cent of federal revenue derived from the state, a right stipulated in the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement, but which has remained unfulfilled since 1974. Fadillah has said that MA63-related demands must be discussed at the committee level before they can be presented to the federal cabinet for policy decisions. Masidi said the matter should conclude soon, as there had been "enough talk." On the full hearing of Sabah's revenue entitlement set for July 7, which coincides with the state legislative sitting for the supplementary budget, Masidi said it was "a healthy exercise." The leave application for a judicial review of the matter was filed by the Sabah Law Society in 2022.
