Kota kinabalu: The Sabah government will study a proposal to revive barter trade between the state and the southern Philippines, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said. He mentioned that although the government had received many suggestions on the matter, a detailed study must be conducted before any implementation as multiple aspects need to be considered.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, among the factors to be examined are security concerns and the benefits of such activities to traders as well as Sabah's economy. "We will discuss this later in meetings with the National Security Council and the State Development Action Council," Hajiji Noor told reporters after inspecting security in tourism areas involving three islands, namely Bakungan Kecil, Selingan, and Lankayan.

Sungai Manila state assemblyman Datuk Hazem Mubarak Musa had recently proposed that the government review the implementation of barter trade as a measure to revitalise Sandakan's economy, which is seen as increasingly sluggish. He said the approach has the potential to attract investors and revive the local economy while generating spillover benefits for the state.