Sabah: Safety zone to calm investors
In an effort to restore investor and business confidence in Sabah after the Royal Army of Sulu intrusion, Malaysia has set up the so-called Eastern Sabah Safety Zone, or Esszone, and has allocated funds worth $65 million to beef up security measures and kick off key programmes aimed at boosting education and rural development.
Esszone was set up in mid-March to protect the area from further intrusions in the wake of an offensive launched by Philippines-based rebels. Officials in Sabah said they were preparing to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles, attack helicopters and speedboats. Once fully implemented, Esszone is expected to send out a message of reassurance to investors and tourists.
“Setting up the Esszone will definitely boost the security level in east Sabah in the best possible manner,” Chief Minister Musa Aman told local media in March.
Esszone now sees a higher military and police presence in 10 affected districts – Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Tawau.
Is also aims to protect the 24 development projects worth nearly 320 million that are currently under construction as part of the Sabah Development Corridor initiative, led by the $80 million Palm Oil Industrial Cluster in Sandakan.
Furthermore, under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), 1,900 kilometer of roads are set to be built throughout Sabah and Sarawak. Public transport is earmarked for an overhaul, and pre-school education will also receive a boost.
Sabah has received about $37 billion in investment since an investment incentive initiative was launched in 2008. However, there were fears that investment levels could fall following February’s incursion, which already happened in the Semporna district.
In an effort to restore investor and business confidence in Sabah after the Royal Army of Sulu intrusion, Malaysia has set up the so-called Eastern Sabah Safety Zone, or Esszone, and has allocated funds worth $65 million to beef up security measures and kick off key programmes aimed at boosting education and rural development. Esszone was set up in mid-March to protect the area from further intrusions in the wake of an offensive launched by Philippines-based rebels. Officials in Sabah said they were preparing to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles, attack helicopters and speedboats. Once fully implemented, Esszone is expected to...
In an effort to restore investor and business confidence in Sabah after the Royal Army of Sulu intrusion, Malaysia has set up the so-called Eastern Sabah Safety Zone, or Esszone, and has allocated funds worth $65 million to beef up security measures and kick off key programmes aimed at boosting education and rural development.
Esszone was set up in mid-March to protect the area from further intrusions in the wake of an offensive launched by Philippines-based rebels. Officials in Sabah said they were preparing to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles, attack helicopters and speedboats. Once fully implemented, Esszone is expected to send out a message of reassurance to investors and tourists.
“Setting up the Esszone will definitely boost the security level in east Sabah in the best possible manner,” Chief Minister Musa Aman told local media in March.
Esszone now sees a higher military and police presence in 10 affected districts – Kudat, Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran, Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Lahad Datu, Semporna, Kunak and Tawau.
Is also aims to protect the 24 development projects worth nearly 320 million that are currently under construction as part of the Sabah Development Corridor initiative, led by the $80 million Palm Oil Industrial Cluster in Sandakan.
Furthermore, under the Government Transformation Programme (GTP), 1,900 kilometer of roads are set to be built throughout Sabah and Sarawak. Public transport is earmarked for an overhaul, and pre-school education will also receive a boost.
Sabah has received about $37 billion in investment since an investment incentive initiative was launched in 2008. However, there were fears that investment levels could fall following February’s incursion, which already happened in the Semporna district.
