Sandakan: The National 'Let's Buy Malaysian Products' Movement (JOM MALAYSIA) is expected to catalyse the promotion of Sabah-made products and brands to the international market, in line with the "local to global" aspiration, which is one of the key focuses of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 2.0 development agenda. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor stated that JOM MALAYSIA's objectives align with the state's economic development agenda, which seeks sustainable, inclusive, and competitive growth through empowering local entrepreneurs and expanding market access.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, JOM MALAYSIA is not just a sales festival or a platform for promoting local products, but a strategic movement connecting entrepreneurs, the government, industry players, financial institutions, and consumers to strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem. "SMJ 2.0 and JOM MALAYSIA share the same objective of empowering local entrepreneurs, increasing the value-added of products and services, and expanding market access to create more economic opportunities for the people," Hajiji stated at the JOM MALAYSIA Festival 2026 launch at the Sandakan Sports Complex.
His speech was delivered by Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III and Minister of Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport, Datuk Ewon Benedick. Hajiji mentioned that Sabah's selection as a host location for the festival acknowledges the state's economic strength and the federal government's confidence in its potential as an economic growth driver in East Malaysia.
Hajiji highlighted the achievements of Sabah's local entrepreneurs over the past year, noting that 124 small and medium enterprise (SME) entrepreneurs participated in 18 international trade expos in 2025, generating RM95.9 million in potential sales, a 37.12% increase from RM60.4 million the previous year. The state government has implemented initiatives like the SME-UP Assistance Programme under SMJ 2.0 to support 600 micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) with an RM15 million allocation.
Additionally, the Sabah Ready-to-Eat Programme aims to commercialise local food products through development grants, retort machine assistance, and halal certification support to enhance product marketability. These initiatives complement JOM MALAYSIA's aspirations by developing competitive entrepreneurs and preparing products for domestic and international markets.
Hajiji also emphasized the tourism sector's role in realising the "local to global" aspiration, particularly with Visit Malaysia Year 2026 and Visit Sabah Year 2027. He noted that Sabah recorded 3.79 million visitor arrivals and generated RM8.74 billion in tourism revenue last year, underscoring the sector's potential as a catalyst for promoting local products and services. Consequently, Hajiji proposed that the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living consider collaborating with the state government to expand the JOM MALAYSIA programme to more strategic destinations across Sabah for Visit Sabah Year 2027.