TAMBUNAN:
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan yesterday said the implementation of Sabah Development Corridor (SDC) will transform the State in the next 18 years. By 2025, Pairin said the State’s economy will see rapid development and Sabah’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to quadruple to RM63. 2 billion. “The State’s GDP per capita is also expected to triple to RM14,800,” he said when officiating an Upper Interior Village Small Entrepreneur dialogue and Small Industry Products exhibition held at the community centre here. Pairin who is also the Rural Development Minister, also said the number of job opportunities will increase to 900,000 and the employment rate is expected to reduce from 5.8 percent in 2006 to 3.5 percent in the next 18 years. He said the SDC development plan which encompasses every corner of the State, is aimed at providing equal opportunities as well as benefits to villagers and is in tandem with the Government’s aim to create a prosperous, peaceful and harmonious living environment for the people. “We will see Sabah becoming a developed and prosperous State through five aspects which will be implemented during the 18 years period,” he said. According to the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate for the Tambunan state and Keningau parliamentary constituencies, the five aspects are: • Making Sabah as the main gateway in the region for trade, investment and tourism purposes; • To develop Sabah into a state where its people live in harmony and prosperity regardless of race and religion; • In ensuring a better quality of life, better usage and application of technology throughout the State; • Job opportunities for Sabahans and; • Sabah will have high quality life and culture, heritage and environment diversity. “The successful implementation of these five aspects will make Sabah a good place to live in and eradicating poverty in the State,” Pairin stressed. He further said the implementation of SDC gives priority to the welfare of the people and assured that no race or group will be left out in terms of development. To eradicate poverty, he said the Government will implement several programmes to improve the income of households that are in the hardcore poor group thus minimizing their numbers.
