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MACC report over RM5.4 million demolition job
MACC report over RM5.4 million demolition job

Daily Express

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • Daily Express

MACC report over RM5.4 million demolition job

Published on: Monday, June 30, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 By: Sohan Das Text Size: The 11-storey hotel, which has remained closed since November 1997, was slated for demolition under a tender called by Labuan Corporation with an indicative value of RM5.467 million. LABUAN: The long-awaited demolition of the abandoned Hotel Labuan is expected to face delays following allegations of irregularities in the tender awarding process, prompting a complaint to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). The 11-storey hotel, which has remained closed since November 1997, was slated for demolition under a tender called by Labuan Corporation with an indicative value of RM5.467 million. The project was expected to take between 32 to 36 weeks to complete. More than 10 companies from peninsula have submitted bids for the demolition project, with the tender closing before April 30, 2025. However, the process has now come under scrutiny after a local contractor filed a complaint with MACC on June 16, 2025. The complainant, a Labuan-based company, has called for the suspension of all demolition work pending the outcome of investigations. The firm expressed frustration that despite being qualified, possessing necessary certifications and submitting a competitive bid lower than the winning company, it was ultimately sidelined in favour of an outside contractor. Among key concerns raised include lack of transparency, preference for outside contractors, limited local opportunities, pattern of exclusion and suspected political interference. The local company claims it met all requirements and was shortlisted in the final phase but was inexplicably excluded from the final selection. Questions were raised about why a qualified local company was overlooked in favour of a contractor from outside Labuan. The complaint noted that projects for CIDB G6 classification contractors in Labuan are extremely limited, with few local contractors registered under the B26 licence category. Concerns were expressed about a perceived pattern of favouring outside contractors over local firms, despite the presence of competent local companies. The most serious allegation involves potential political interference from higher authorities in the tender process. The complainant has called for a comprehensive MACC investigation to determine whether irregularities and external pressure influenced the tender awarding process. The tender was initially called on March 19, 2025, targeting registered qualified contractors for the demolition of the iconic hotel that has stood vacant for nearly three decades. The outcome of the MACC investigation will likely determine whether the project proceeds as planned or faces further delays.

Labuan Corp urged to boost community empowerment and food security
Labuan Corp urged to boost community empowerment and food security

The Sun

time3 days ago

  • Business
  • The Sun

Labuan Corp urged to boost community empowerment and food security

LABUAN: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, has urged Labuan Corporation (LC) to shift its focus beyond basic municipal services and actively facilitate community empowerment. Speaking to Bernama after a meeting with LC's top management, she emphasised the need for the corporation to play a pivotal role in improving socioeconomic conditions. 'Labuan Corporation must act as a facilitator to empower the socioeconomic well-being of the people, including addressing food security and the high cost of living on the island,' she said. Dr Zaliha stressed that governance and integrity should form the foundation of local authority operations. Despite Labuan's high GDP per capita, driven by oil and gas as well as finance sectors, Dr Zaliha noted that this economic strength has not significantly benefited ordinary residents. She highlighted the importance of reducing food import dependency by boosting local production of essentials like poultry, meat, eggs, and vegetables. Additionally, she pointed to the upcoming Borneo Flora Festival as an opportunity to stimulate economic activity in hospitality, transportation, and homestay sectors, ensuring broader community participation. Dr Zaliha urged LC to evolve into a dynamic force for inclusive growth, leveraging tourism and infrastructure to ensure prosperity reaches all residents.

Concerted efforts to cut food import dependence through urban farming
Concerted efforts to cut food import dependence through urban farming

New Straits Times

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • New Straits Times

Concerted efforts to cut food import dependence through urban farming

LABUAN: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa has called for coordinated and innovative strategies to reduce Labuan's heavy reliance on imported food. She urged the implementation of urban and alternative farming systems to address the island's limited agricultural land. Dr Zaliha acknowledged that the duty-free island faces significant agricultural challenges due to land constraints and limited connectivity. However, she emphasised that sustainable food policies must be developed to ensure sufficient raw material supplies for the local population. "Our efforts are to ensure adequate food supplies for the Labuan community despite the shortage of land and (limited) connectivity," she told reporters after launching the Interim Report on the 2024 Agriculture Census in the Federal Territories 2024 here today. Dr Zaliha said that with only 0.22 per cent of land in Labuan zoned for agricultural use, the constraint makes large-scale conventional farming unfeasible, necessitating alternatives such as hydroponics and urban farming. She said Labuan's overdependence on imported food could result in price instability and a rising cost of living. In response, she announced that Labuan Corporation (LC), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Services, and Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, would evaluate the island's food self-sufficiency levels, particularly for essential items such as chicken, meat, eggs, and vegetables. She also proposed a long-term vision to transform Labuan into a 'living laboratory' for sustainable food systems in Malaysia, inspired from urban food district models in European cities. "To realise this vision, we need a centre of excellence that collaborates with research institutions and universities, shifting from conventional agriculture to food alternatives such as cultivated meat and lab-produced cellular fermentation," she said. Dr Zaliha said she would instruct Labuan Corporation to identify any potentially suitable land for agriculture to bolster the island's food security. – Bernama

Hydroponics, lab-grown meat way to cut food imports for land-strapped Labuan, says FT minister
Hydroponics, lab-grown meat way to cut food imports for land-strapped Labuan, says FT minister

Malay Mail

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • Malay Mail

Hydroponics, lab-grown meat way to cut food imports for land-strapped Labuan, says FT minister

LABUAN, June 28 — Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa has called for coordinated and innovative strategies to reduce Labuan's heavy reliance on imported food. She urged the implementation of urban and alternative farming systems to address the island's limited agricultural land. Dr Zaliha acknowledged that the duty-free island faces significant agricultural challenges due to land constraints and limited connectivity. However, she emphasised that sustainable food policies must be developed to ensure sufficient raw material supplies for the local population. 'Our efforts are to ensure adequate food supplies for the Labuan community despite the shortage of land and (limited) connectivity,' she told reporters after launching the Interim Report on the 2024 Agriculture Census in the Federal Territories 2024 here today. Dr Zaliha noted that with only 0.22 per cent of land in Labuan zoned for agricultural use, the constraint makes large-scale conventional farming unfeasible, necessitating alternatives such as hydroponics and urban farming. She said Labuan's overdependence on imported food could result in price instability and a rising cost of living. In response, she announced that Labuan Corporation (LC), in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Services, and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, would evaluate the island's food self-sufficiency levels, particularly for essential items such as chicken, meat, eggs, and vegetables. She also proposed a long-term vision to transform Labuan into a 'living laboratory' for sustainable food systems in Malaysia, inspired from urban food district models in European cities. 'To realise this vision, we need a centre of excellence that collaborates with research institutions and universities, shifting from conventional agriculture to food alternatives such as cultivated meat and lab-produced cellular fermentation,' she said. Dr Zaliha added she would instruct Labuan Corporation to identify any potentially suitable land for agriculture to bolster the island's food security. — Bernama

Labuan pushes urban farming to cut food import reliance
Labuan pushes urban farming to cut food import reliance

The Sun

time4 days ago

  • Business
  • The Sun

Labuan pushes urban farming to cut food import reliance

LABUAN: Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa has stressed the need for coordinated efforts to reduce Labuan's heavy dependence on imported food. She highlighted urban and alternative farming as key solutions to overcome the island's limited agricultural land. Speaking at the launch of the Interim Report on the 2024 Agriculture Census in the Federal Territories, Dr Zaliha acknowledged Labuan's challenges, including land scarcity and connectivity issues. However, she emphasised the importance of sustainable food policies to secure raw material supplies for locals. 'Our efforts are to ensure adequate food supplies for the Labuan community despite the shortage of land and (limited) connectivity,' she told reporters. With only 0.22 per cent of Labuan's land zoned for agriculture, conventional farming is impractical. Dr Zaliha proposed hydroponics and urban farming as viable alternatives. She warned that over-reliance on imports could lead to price volatility and higher living costs. To address this, Labuan Corporation, alongside the Department of Agriculture and other agencies, will assess food self-sufficiency levels, particularly for staples like chicken, meat, eggs, and vegetables. Dr Zaliha also envisioned Labuan as a 'living laboratory' for sustainable food systems, drawing inspiration from European urban food districts. She suggested establishing a centre of excellence involving research institutions to explore food alternatives such as lab-grown meat and cellular fermentation. Additionally, she directed Labuan Corporation to identify potential agricultural land to enhance food security.

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