KOTA KINABALU, May 29 – The Sabah government has proposed to establish sea linkage between Kudat and Palawan, Philippines to revitalise Kudat’s economy, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
Hajiji said the matter was discussed with Transport Minister Anthony Loke who later toured Kudat with Kudat Member of Parliament Datuk Verdon Bahanda.
“By establishing ferry services, barter trading at Kudat could be revived,“ he said in a statement after the Chief Minister’s Department post-cabinet meeting at Menara Kinabalu on Wednesday.
Barter trade could help to revive Kudat’s sluggish economy, said Hajiji, adding that the opening of Kudat port may also be a berthing point for ships sailing from southern Mindanao to Labuan.
“Presently, sea vessels carrying goods from Southern Mindanao go directly Labuan. If we open up the Kudat port, we could tap into the Southern Mindanao-Labuan shipping route,“ he added.
According to him, Kudat Port would have all the necessary facilities, especially the Customs, Immigration, Quarantine and Security checkpoints.
The Chief Minister said he has also discussed the matter with Sabah police commissioner to look into the security aspect for deliberations at the State Security Council.
