The economy of Sabah

Traditionally, Sabah's economy exported a large amount of tropical borneol, but with the exhaustion of natural forests at an alarming rate, people made many ecological efforts to save the only remaining natural rainforest fields, which was realized at the beginning of 1982. Through forest protection methods, especially the researchers of Sandakan Forest Research Institute took the lead in collecting different kinds of acacia macrophylla seeds and planting them in the pilot areas; However, oil palm has become the cash crop chosen by farmers. Other important agricultural products of Sabah economy include rubber and cocoa. Tourism is the second largest economic source at present. There are other export products such as seafood and vegetables.

1970, Sabah was one of the richest states in Malaysia, and its average gross national product was second only to Selangor (including Kuala Lumpur at that time). However, despite its huge natural resources, Sabah is currently the poorest state in Malaysia. At present, the average income is the lowest in the country, and compared with West Malaysia, the living expenses in Sabah are relatively high. In 2000, the unemployment rate in Sabah was 5.6%, which was the highest in Malaysia and almost twice the national average of 3. 1%. The poverty rate in Sabah is the highest in the country, reaching 16%, which is more than three times the national average. Due to the lack of professional jobs and highly skilled labor, a large number of Sabah people migrated or actually migrated to Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and the United States. Part of the problem comes from the unfair distribution of resources between the state government and the federal government, and a large number of illegal immigrants from Indonesia, the Philippines and even China and East Timor, with an estimated population of 500,000. Because a large amount of land has been planted with oil palm, the industry is not fully mechanized and highly dependent on immigrants with work permits and illegal immigrants. In 2004, the poverty rate dropped to 22%. However, with the assistance of the state government and the federal government, as well as the active consultation between the United Nations and the governments of these countries of origin of illegal immigrants, several measures have been taken to help Sabah overcome these crises slowly.

Malaysia's Ninth Plan has allocated RM 65,438+069.08 billion to Sabah, which is second only to Sarawak in China, but only accounts for 8% of the total national budget. However, Sabah's population exceeds 65,438+03%, and its area exceeds 25% of the whole country. This is obviously discriminatory, resulting in Sabah being the most populous area in Malaysia living below the poverty line and lower than the poverty rate in Indonesia. According to United Nations figures in 2004, Sabah is on the same level as Aceh and Myanmar.

The funds will be used to improve the rural areas of Sabah, upgrade the state's transportation and public infrastructure, and promote the economic development of Sabah. The government focuses on three main areas that may become the engines of economic growth in Sabah: agriculture, manufacturing and tourism.