KUCHING: Sabah and Sarawak continue to affirm their commitment to strengthening strategic cooperation in a more structured and formal manner to accelerate the development of the Borneo territory through coordination in various key sectors, including road infrastructure, utilities, ports, logistics, and industrial development.

Sabah Deputy Chief Minister II and Sabah Minister for Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Datuk Ewon Benedick said the cooperation will commence through coordination at the senior official level of the ministries of both states as an initial step to reinforce the implementation of various joint initiatives.

According to him, close relations between Sabah and Sarawak are highly crucial as both states complement each other in terms of resources, infrastructural facilities, and economic development potential that can benefit the entire Borneo territory.

“Sabah needs Sarawak, and Sarawak also needs Sabah to ensure this Borneo territory develops better through stronger cooperation.

“We have agreed to formalise this cooperation, starting at the senior official level of the ministries in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.

He said this to reporters after paying a courtesy call on Sarawak Deputy Premier and Sarawak Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan at Wisma Sumber Alam here on Friday.

Elaborating further, Datuk Ewon said the discussion also focused on efforts to strengthen cooperation in the industrial sector, considering that both states share an interdependent relationship within supply chains and industrial development.

In addition, he noted that aspects of logistics coordination and the movement of goods in border areas were also discussed, including the use of Sepanggar Port as one of the strategic routes for shipping construction materials to northern Sarawak.

Also present was Sarawak Deputy Minister for International Trade, Industry and Investment Datuk Dr Malcolm Mussen Lamoh. — UKASnews

Prepared by: Nur Nabilla
Photos by: Jaed Tepus
Translator: Ryan Lim