Develop Labuan or return it to Sabah, MP tells federal govt
PARLIAMENT | Rozman Isli (Warisan-Labuan) told the federal government to return the federal territory of Labuan to Sabah if it fails to bring development to the islands.
He said Sabah has the capacity and finances to develop the territory, which is best known as an offshore financial centre.
PARLIAMENT | Rozman Isli (Warisan-Labuan) told Putrajaya to return the federal territory of Labuan to Sabah if it fails to bring development to the islands.
Rozman (above) said Sabah has the capacity and finances to develop the territory, which is best known as an offshore financial centre.
“We need to hear from the federal government on whether it is willing to perform its duty and fulfil the commitment it made when it agreed to take over Labuan and develop it, as I’ve mentioned earlier.
“If not, it is obvious. Return the rights and the money that the Sabah government is entitled to.
“Sabah has great capacity and finances. There will be no problems with Labuan, Sabah can develop it,” he said in the Dewan Rakyat today while debating the King’s speech.
Rozman said this when answering Mohamad Alamin’s (BN-Kimanis) question on whether he would support a movement to return Labuan to Sabah.
“If there is a movement by the people of Labuan to draft a memorandum demanding to be returned to Sabah or cease being a federal territory, would the Labuan member agree and support it?” he asked.
For the record, Sabah handed over Labuan to the federal government in 1984.
It is one of three federal territories in Malaysia, alongside Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.
The government set up the Labuan International Offshore Financial Centre and made the territory a free trade zone in 1990.
Meanwhile, Rozman urged the government to pay more attention to the territory’s needs, particularly the Youth and Sports Ministry, and the Environment and Water Ministry.
He said the territory is currently facing a litany of problems, including a dilapidated sports complex and a water crisis.
“To the youth and sports minister, please come and see the Labuan sports complex and don’t forget to see the condition of the swimming pool for yourself, which has been broken for six years...
“Last week, I tried to put a question to the environment minister because of the water crisis in Labuan. Over 85 percent of the people in Labuan have lost their water supply,” he added.
Rozman said even in the face of a Covid-19 pandemic, the people have little water for personal hygiene, and many have resorted by buying mineral water from supermarkets.
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