Liew (left) submitting the memorandum to Hajiji.
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah United Chinese Chamber of Commerce (SUCCC) on Wednesday submitted a memorandum by its affiliates to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor which reflected some local problems they are facing.
The memorandum was handed over to Hajiji by SUCCC president Tan Sri Andrew Liew during a courtesy call to the Chief Minister at his office.
Liew said among the affiliates included in the memorandum were those from Kunak, Beaufort,Lahad Datu, Papar, Kota Marudu, Beaufort and Sipitang.
He said that the memorandum mentioned several issues, including the Pan Borneo Highway, water supply, appointment of district councillors, road construction and upgrading projects, severe shortage of workers in the plantation sector, proposal for a new airport, upgrading of hospital equipment, economy and promotion of renewable energy projects.
“It is our hope that the state government will look into the issues mentioned and help to resolve them as soon as possible,” he added.
Liew disclosed that the courtesy call to the Chief Minister was made following the meeting and dialogue between the SUCCC committee and president/chairman of the affiliate bodies.
Kunak Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry chairman Yong Ten Su proposed two issues namely to speed up the construction of the Pan-Borneo Sabah highway from 43 kilometers to 48 kilometers from Tawau to the Semporna roundabout and the need to resolve the 20-year water supply problem in Kunak.
Yong pointed out that the future economic and trade prosperity as well as growth of Kunak will depend on the accelerated completion of the Pan-Borneo Sabah Highway from Tawau to Kunak and Lahad Datu.
His counterpart from the Beaufort Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Datuk Seri Panglima Chong Nyuk Yong also called on the Chief Minister to solve the water supply problem that has plagued the residents and business community in the district.
When there is no water supply, businesses have to close early resulting in losses, he lamented.
Chong also hoped that the state government will appoint at least two representatives from the Beaufort Chinese Chamber of Commerce to serve as councillors of the Beaufort District Municipal Council to assist businesses in solving problems.
Papar Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Chong High Weal hopes that the Chief Minister will pay attention to the road project from Lok Kawi to Pengalat to Papar and ensure that it is completed so as to promote the district’s economic, agricultural, and tourism development.
Lahad Datu Chinese Chamber of Commerce president Tan Cheng Teng mentioned the lack of labour in palm oil plantations which has affected harvesting.
Tan also asked the state government to build a new airport in Lahad Datu to attract foreign and domestic investment to the district.
He added that the state government must upgrade the facilities of the Lahad Datu Hospital to provide for the needs of more than 300,000 people, and the urgent need to set up a haemodialysis centre there.
Chairman of the Sipitang Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Yeo Boon Kiat, hopes that the Chief Minister will pay attention to the Sabah Forest Industry Co, Ltd, which has been out of operation for a long time as he opined that once it resumes operations, it will drive economic growth for the district.
Yong said Sipitang needs to build a port to open up opportunities for importers, exporters and investors, and then stimulate local and even Sabah economic growth.
Kota Marudu Chinese Chamber of Commerce chairman Lu Kim Yen hopes that the state government will improve the development of infrastructure in the district as well as promote social and economic activities, and implement a solar energy plan there.
Lu spoke about the need to upgrade the infrastructure within four kilometers of the town.