Kota kinabalu: Sabah has continued to bolster its economic position and investment performance over the past five years, with significant expansion in sectors such as solar, oil and gas, and electric vehicle battery components. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor highlighted that foreign investment in Sabah from 2021 to 2024 reached RM14.77 billion, while domestic investment amounted to RM20.61 billion during the same period.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Sabah attracted foreign investment worth RM6.61 billion in the first half of 2025, alongside domestic investments of RM4.79 billion. The state government’s investor-friendly policies have laid a strong foundation for attracting foreign investments, notably from South Korea and China, which have established a copper foil factory and a solar panel glass manufacturing and sand processing plant in the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park.
In an exclusive interview with BERNAMA, Hajiji emphasized the operational status of these investments, citing the state’s policy environment as a key factor in drawing both domestic and foreign investors. The interview was conducted at the Chief Minister’s official residence in Sri Gaya, with BERNAMA News Desk executive editor Mohd Haikal Mohd Isa and Sabah bureau chief Fadzli Ramli present.
Hajiji also announced a substantial investment from Singapore in the Oil and Gas Industrial Park in Sipitang, witnessed by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. This investment, valued at RM31 billion and planned in three phases, is expected to significantly boost the local economy and create jobs for 7,000 to 8,000 workers, offering promising employment prospects for Sabah’s youth.
Domestic investments from companies across Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, and Sabah have further enhanced the state’s investment performance. Hajiji credited the government’s supportive stance and efficient policies for making Sabah an attractive destination for investors, providing necessary facilities such as land and regulatory support to facilitate business operations.
Discussing state revenue, Hajiji noted an increase in collections to RM7 billion, a significant rise from RM3 billion when he assumed office. Additionally, the state’s reserves have grown to RM8 billion, compared to less than RM3 billion at the start of his administration.