SABAH did well in 2022 with the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Roadmap, earning RM6.6 billion in revenue, Chief Minister Hajiji Noor said.

He said it was the state’s best financial performance since the formation of Malaysia in 1963.

In his New Year message, Hajiji said the state government will not rest on its laurels and will continue to implement a robust policy to bring in more investments to the state.

He said this was evidenced in the RM5.138 billion budget for 2023.

“Under our investor-friendly SMJ initiatives, we have achieved record foreign direct investment as well as domestic investments. The latest is the RM19.6 billion integrated green steel project at the Sipitang Oil and Gas Industrial Park,” he said.

“Sabah is also expected to collect revenue of RM2.45 billion annually in royalties and sales tax payments from oil and gas.”

He said a conducive environment is necessary for the state to pursue its development goals.

“It is crucial that we have political stability. We must discard any form of divisiveness that will only pull us apart. We must forge forward into the new year with resolve, unity in diversity and good work in accordance with the mandate given to us by the people.

“Now that the dust has settled after the elections, it is time for everyone to close ranks and put aside differences so that we can work together for the good of Sabah. Let us all unite and move forward to focus on economic recovery. Much still has to be done.” – Bernama, December 31, 2022.