Labuan development print to be reviewed: Newly-appointed LC chairman

LABUAN: The Labuan Development Blueprint 2030 drawn up during the Barisan Nasional (BN) government era will be thoroughly reviewed to tailor it to the island's current economic development.
Newly-appointed Labuan Corporation chairman Datuk Seri Amir Hussien said the blueprint was too ambitious owing to Labuan's economic situation.
"We found out the development blueprint is rather overboard, we do not have any intention to torpedo it, but there is a need to review its details, before we can agree on its implementation," he told reporters after receiving the appointment letter from Federal Territories Minister Khalid Abdul Samad at Wisma Perbadanan Labuan, here today.
The blueprint launched in January outlined various development projects that encompassed coastal development right up to urban physical development to turn Labuan into a smart and sustainable island city.
On his appointment as the Labuan Corporation chairman, he expected greater challenges ahead of fine tuning the economic development plans for the island.
"Not that Labuan is facing a slowdown in the oil and gas sector on which it depended heavily, we should embrace on a more sustainable sector like tourism and not on volatile sectors," he said.
He said the tourism fund had not been fully taken up by tourism players that could be applied for Labuan tourism products.
Amir whose economic background in telecommunication engineering, said priorities would be focused more on generating economic activities for locals that would have trickle-down effects on employment opportunities.
"My focus will be coming up with a formula or measures that will compel companies to give priority to local residents in the job recruitment process, as part of our efforts to ensure locals get proper trainings and priority in the employment opening opportunities," he said.
Amir said there was a crucial need to have close rapport with industry players to ensure the island's development needs were well-planned and organised.
"Maybe there is also a need to re-look at the roles of the Labuan Corporation advisory council on how it functions in accordance with the local authorities' needs.
"Providing better jobs and diverse business opportunities to meet Labuanites' aspirations are the ultimate objectives of the island's economic growth," he said. — Bernama