Sabah tops Malaysia in Q1 manufacturing investment with RM7.3 billion
Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025
By: Sisca Humphrey Text Size: Phoong receives a memento from SME Sabah president Deledda Than KOTA KINABALU: Sabah recorded RM7.3 billion in manufacturing investments in the first quarter of this year, making it Malaysia's top destination for the sector. Industrial Development and Entrepreneurship Minister Datuk Phoong Jin Zhe said local SMEs must not rely solely on foreign capital and should industrialise to remain competitive.
Advertisement Phoong announced RM15 million in state funding to help SMEs automate, upgrade machinery, and expand while noting Sabah's exports rose 11 per cent up to May. He also highlighted Sabah's ongoing industrial push, including a 100MW Battery Energy Storage System in Lahad Datu and AirAsia's new KK–Taipei–Fukuoka route. Phoong cautioned against implementing overlapping federal policies and stressed that economic reforms must not burden SMEs as Sabah's unemployment rate improved to 6.7 per cent. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
DayOne Data Centers prioritises efficient use of power and water
JOHOR BAHRU: Global pioneer in digital infrastructure platform, DayOne Data Centers (DayOne) is focusing on optimising its energy and water consumption to support Malaysia's sustainability goals while maintaining high-performance operations as global demand for digital infrastructure surges. DayOne Data Centers Malaysia Sdn Bhd general manager Jimmy Yan said data centres inherently consume a significant amount of electricity and water to power servers and artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and efficiency remains the company's core strategy. 'If you talk about daily consumption, we're looking at a few million litres of water per day. But rather than absolute numbers, we measure efficiency using indicators like power (PUE) and water utilisation efficiency (WUE). 'Our PUE and WUE remain at relatively low levels, and that's a better gauge of performance,' he told Bernama in an interview recently. Johor is expected to host 60% of Malaysia's total data centre capacity by 2030, cementing its role as the digital hub for Southeast Asia, where transformation will be accelerated by the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone. Yan said several of DayOne's facilities use 'zero water' cooling technologies to eliminate water dependency, although such systems require higher energy input. 'There's always a trade-off. If you don't use water, you end up using more power. So we try to strike a balance by adopting the most efficient technologies.' The company also emphasises green energy adoption, including rooftop solar installation and collaboration with Tenaga Nasional Bhd through the Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme (CRESS) to source solar energy. The agreement enables DayOne to secure up to 500 megawatts of renewable energy over a 21-year term to support its data centre operations in Malaysia, making DayOne the first company to execute a bilateral energy supply contract under the national CRESS framework. 'Solar does not reduce overall power consumption, but it replaces brown energy with green energy. So we are tackling this on two fronts, reducing waste through efficiency and replacing traditional sources with renewables,' Yan said. As Malaysia positions itself as a regional digital hub, DayOne believes building infrastructure responsibly is crucial. 'We cannot afford to fall behind. Digital infrastructure is a must, and we are making sure it grows in harmony with sustainability,' he said. Headquartered in Singapore, DayOne positions the Singapore–Johor–Riau region as a critical interconnected data centre hub. DayOne has completed its RM15 billion equivalent multicurrency financing, comprising a RM7.5 billion murabahah term financing facility and a US$1.7 billion (RM7.2 billion) offshore term loan facility.
Daily Express
2 hours ago
- Daily Express
Pulau Gaya cockle farming plan mooted to boost coastal economy
Published on: Sunday, July 06, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 06, 2025 By: Jonathan Nicholas Text Size: Ritchie donates life jackets to licensed fishermen on Pulau Gaya on Sunday. KOTA KINABALU: Tanjung Aru Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan Rakyat) committee member Ritchie Jay Cheng has proposed replicating Tuaran's cockle farming model in Pulau Gaya to boost local incomes and support coastal tourism. He said the initiative, alongside seafood processing and solar energy adoption, could provide jobs, empower youth, and address long-standing power issues on the island. Advertisement During a handover of 50 life jackets to licensed fishermen on Sunday, Ritchie noted many still go to sea without proper safety gear, adding that this was their first donation initiative. He said the plan aligns with the Sabah Blue Economy Council's goal to develop fisheries and tourism sustainably, while improving livelihoods for local communities. On politics, he confirmed Tanjung Aru Gagasan Rakyat's support for Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) ahead of the next state election, stating the division has over 90 active branches. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
9 hours ago
- Daily Express
Rotarians told: Serve with passion
Published on: Sunday, July 06, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 06, 2025 Text Size: Masidi with Datuk George Taitim Tulas, Jack Lo and the new Board of Directors. KOTA KINABALU: Turn your job into a hobby, turn your hobby into a passion. This was the advice of State Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun, to Rotarians at the Rotary Club of Kota Kinabalu (RCKK) 74th Installation Banquet, at Hyatt Regency, recently. The occasion was the handing over ceremony from the outgoing President Datuk George Taitim Tulas to the incoming President Jack Lo, who took office on July 1. Advertisement Masidi, who was guest-of-honour, said he has lost touch how many times he has been in Rotary events, but found it always a pleasant experience and away from the hustle and bustle life as a politician. He was full of praise for all the good works of Rotary, especially in the rural areas. Subscribe or LOG IN to access this article. Support Independant Journalism Subscribe to Daily Express Malaysia Access to DE E-Paper Access to DE E-Paper Exclusive News Exclusive News Invites to special events Invites to special events Giveaways & Rewards 1-Year Most Popular (Income Tax Deductible) Explore Plans Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
