Semporna Can Become a Key Catalyst for Blue Economy

Semporna – a coastal district in Sabah’s east coast – has been touted by many as a potential pulse and key catalyst for Sabah’s economic transformation through the Blue Economy agenda under the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development plan. In the high-impact and sustainable marine tourism sector, Semporna is a lead district. The district’s leadership and Sabah Parks have successfully implemented a daily visitor quota system for the world-renown Sipadan Island which has ensured a balance between environmental conservation and economic activities.

. At the Tun Sakaran Marine Park, the authorities and the community have created a harmonious synergy between tourism, biodiversity conservation and community participation. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor has always stressed that the major development agenda in Semporna would not become a reality without strong grassroots leadership and a high commitment to sustainability principles. It has been a concern for quite a long time that Mabul Island and Kapalai Island have faced increasing pressure from congestion and rapid development.

The long-term solution must include prudent management, otherwise we risk damaging the natural assets that are the State’s economic goldmine. Sustainability must be seen as an investment, not a burden, Hajiji said. Local leaders and the community must be proactive to be the ‘main custodians’ of the ecosystem by helping to enforce regulations, combat unsustainable activities, drive community awareness campaigns and encourage youth involvement in the Blue Economy sector, he added.

The Chief Minister said that the State Government is intensifying efforts to transform the marine aquaculture sector to create a shift from raw material production to a value-added economy, including the expansion of integrated commercial-scale aquaculture zones, the introduction of more efficient and environmentally friendly modern sea cage technology. Hajiji said that community-based tourism concept must always be prioritised so that the local community receives the economic and social benefits. Semporna’s potential could generate large-scale economic spillover effects if managed strategically, benefiting not only the local community but also the entire State. “Semporna’s success is Sabah’s success,” Hajiji said at a dinner on 7 May 2026 held in conjunction with a working visit to the district on 6 May 2026 as part of the ESS Zone Security Inspection.

“We are also working to attract high-impact investments in the downstream seafood processing sector so that the economic value chain can be comprehensively controlled.” The government is formulating plans to upgrade critical supporting infrastructure in Semporna, including the modernisation of jetty facilities and logistics networks, the development of a comprehensive cold chain system to ensure seafood quality, broader access to international export markets, as well as the provision of more organised, safe and world-class public tourism facilities, Hajiji added.

The CM believes that Semporna has the potential to become a world-class sustainable marine tourism hub, a modern aquaculture centre, a leading premium seafood producer, a model for coastal community economic development, and a centre of reference for Blue Economy success.