LAHAD DATU:
The Sabah Development Corridor is set to further boost the Palm Oil Industrial Cluster (POIC) here. Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Datu Nasrun Datu Mansur, in disclosing this, also described that SDC as one of the best approaches to develop the district. The POIC project, carried out on 5,000 acres of land, was established in 2006 stretching to the year 2021, with the first phase covering 1,150 acres of land. At the same time, about 101 hectares from 323 hectares of POIC land have been sold to 15 companies for RM1 billion. Two Korean and Australian-based biodiesel companies have started operation at Lahad Datu POIC. Nasrun is confident that once the project is completed, it would not only lure foreign investors to come in but also provide job opportunities and boost economic development by offering businesses. In the effort to beef up economic development here, the Lahad Datu Airport would also be upgraded and expanded, providing a more comfortable terminal to passengers, adding that the long-term plan is to build a new airport in the Sandau area soon. “In line with the growing development through POIC, we are also planning to build a sports complex, including weekend recreation centre which would benefit locals as well as our visitors,” he said. A 300-megawatt power station worth RM 1.2 billion that uses coal would also be set up at the Pacific Hardwood Silam factory site. Overall, Nasrun said the development projects under SDC through POIC had helped improve the infrastructure and basic necessities, which would benefit the locals, including those in the rural areas.
