SPEECH BY

 

YAB DATO’ SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

PRIME MINISTER OF MALAYSIA

 

 

LAUNCHING CEREMONY OF

ESTEEL ENTERPRISE SABAH SDN BHD

PHASE 1 PROJECT

 

 

30 MAY 2025 (FRIDAY) | 10.00 AM

SIPITANG OIL & GAS INDUSTRIAL PARK (SOGIP), SABAH

 

 

 

Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh dan walam sejahtera.

Salam Kaamatan Toinsanan.

Semangat Kaamatan.

 

Saudara saya Ketua Menteri, YAB Datuk Seri Panglima Hj Hajiji Haji Noor;

 

Timbalan Ketua Menteri;

 

Menteri Pembangunan Usahawan Dan Koperasi, YB Datuk Ewon Benedick;

 

Menteri Perdagangan Dalam Negeri Dan Kos Sara Hidup, YB Datuk Armizan bin Mohd Ali;

 

Menteri-menteri Negeri Sabah, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri dan rakan-rakan;

 

Chairman of Esteel Enterprise Sabah, Saudara You Zhenhua;

 

Chairman of Sabah Oil and Gas Development Corporation, YBhg. Datuk Seri Panglima Abdul Rahman;

 

Dan rakan-rakan.

1. Kita rasa bangga kerana kita dapat menyaksikan satu bentuk pelaburan baru yang besar dan ini memang dimungkinkan kerana sistem politik negara yang stabil, yang menyebabkan ada keyakinan. Dan kedua, kerana ada dasar yang menggalakkan pelaburan yang memberikan insentif, yang menjadikan Malaysia dan Sabah menarik untuk meyakini pelabur. Dan ketiga, cabaran yang sangat penting ialah cara kita, dari Menteri-menterinya, Setiausaha Kerajaan Negerinya dan penjawat awam keseluruhannya, perbandaran – menjalankan dengan cekap dan telus untuk meyakinkan pelabur bahawa tidak ada satu kerenah birokrasi yang menghalang dan menghambat kepesatan pelaksanaan projek.

 

2. So, I extend my profound and sincere appreciation to Esteel Enterprise Sabah for its decision and commitment to invest in Sabah and in the process, of course, showcase their confidence in the stability of the political system, clarity of policies, precisely economic policies and the effective execution in terms of approvals of the project at the ground level. These are the three criteria that is considered the precondition to ensure that the country is succeed.

 

3. We are living in a very competitive environment. We are facing, for example, the unprecedented and also unanticipated tariff announced by President Donald Trump. But let us view this positively. Number one, of course, we have to look at negotiations because the United States remain one of the important investors into Malaysia. Cumulatively, there is the highest investment into Malaysia and we continue to have good relations with the United States.

 

4. Admiral Samuel J. Paparo of the United States Indo-Pacific Command met me yesterday in Putrajaya and tomorrow Secretary of Defence of United States requested for a meeting with me in Singapore, I was asked by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to address the Singapore’s Shangri-La Dialogue, which means we continue to maintain good relations because we are a trading nation.

 

5. Our Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI) Minister, YB Senator Datuk Seri Utama Tengku Zafrul and the team went to the United States to negotiate. In our case, that we had an engagement with all ASEAN countries within a common position and together with Korea, Japan and China to support the position for Malaysia to remain steadfast supporting multilateral trading system and to reject any unilateral actions. Notwithstanding, the solution should be negotiations while firming the principles of fair rule based, multilateral trading arrangements.

 

6. At the same time, we in ASEAN has gone further. I of course thank all the Ministries, Officers, the private sector, the hotel, the workers, the drivers who made it possible, successful 46^th ASEAN Summit for last few days. And this gives a lot of satisfaction, alhamdulillah.

 

7. The Malaysia can showcase its ability to organize international conference not only efficiently and successfully but in terms of substantive decisions, we would register something phenomenal in this 46^th ASEAN Summit. So, I wish them thank you to all those who supported.

 

8. At the same time, this is again the first time when ASEAN was able to attract the richest Arab countries, the GCC – Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman to come to Kuala Lumpur and committed to having a synergy of collaboration into the trade, investments and diplomatic relations to cement their relations by focusing on economic advancement in energy transition, in digital transformation and Artificial Intelligence and, of course, food security. And again, it is the first time in ASEAN they will could do it.

 

9. And following that as ASEAN, GCC and China.Last month, we received President Xi Jinping who gave his support and commitment for enhanced, comprehensive strategic partnership with Malaysia. And this week, we had Premier Li Qiang who become a personal friend of mine, who came and represented China in the discussion with ASEAN and GCC. That is why I always remind and reiterate this point to our friends, including now Saudi Arabia that the political stability, relations and respect for all communities that after all, Allah SWT has exalted the children of Adam.

 

10. Many tribes and the race, agreed not to sow discord but to establish that human respect and trust to know and appreciate one another according to the Quranic term; ‘lita’arafu’. It is essential and those of us being Prime Minister or Ministers or Chief Minister were entrusted the authority and ‘amanah’ for leadership, must use this to introduce with clarity policies that will benefit the people through good governance and clarity of policies that will be able to attract investments domestically and foreign direct investments.

 

11. For those of you who were entrusted as officers at all levels must be efficient. We don’t compare to the weakest of nations. We don’t compare to countries with poor growth. We compare to the best. There is no reason why some or Malaysia, cannot aim for the best. And the best means leaders with conviction, tenacity of purpose, with discipline, good governance, clarity of policies and love and affection for their people in the state and in the federation.

 

12. The federal government remains fully committed is supporting initiative by the states. This includes what is considered our priority for included the USD or the UN is standable roles. What more, Esteel as an added attraction is agreed upon, is committed to training or discussing with the chairman and I said the focus must be now, training our young Sabahans, in universities, in TVET institutions and the state and the federal agencies should be more flexible, allowing them to enter these events, take over some of this program and train them now. So that when they graduate with the certificate, it may not be a formal certificate by the Ministry, it may be a certificate by the company and coming from Esteel, is as good or at time, better than some of our departments.

 

13. Let them handle the training. Let them make sure that the training meets the standards and also the requirements of that particular industry. If they want 200 people from a particular TVET or university to work in the company or in the industry, let them train now. So, that there will not be a mismatch between what is being trained by the education centers and what is required by the industry. So, they should be given that flexibility.

 

14. In Kulim Hi-Tech, in Johor-Singapore Economic Zone, in Lembah Klang. We have told the industries and universities, colleges, to work in tandem, collaborate to ensure that the training needs the requirement of the industries. I mentioned to the chairman, get your staff, go to a particular institution, IPTA or whatever and recommend this and I must remind the Ministries, no compromise. Don’t give, you know, some bureaucratic, technical, you think about future of your students and they will be better served in the industry. Train these people for their requirements. If they need to be sent to either Kuala Lumpur or China, then come back as qualified engineers or technicians. To get it done and no excuses to not be accepted. That’s what we mean by inclusive growth.

 

15. What the Malaysian strategy in the ASEAN 2025, inclusivity. We think everybody. That’s why I’m here out of respect for Kaamatan this year, this is the separate program. To me, I told Chief Minister Hajiji that I come all the way and was given this honor and there’s no harm to contribute. That’s what we mean by inclusivity, by respect, by MADANI it means you respect and you show appreciation. That is precisely the reason why I think that we need to encourage this spirit. Don’t listen, you can listen at the thing some of these people desperate. They only talk about divisions, negative. That is the problem, psychological problem.

 

16. We pick on small issue, look at it. Look at Malaysia today, look at how ASEAN gives us the respect. Look at the GCC countries, the Emir of Qatar, the Prime Minister, countries like Kuwait and the rest come all the way just to showcase they are willing to be in Malaysia.

 

17. However, with ASEAN, invest in this country, have confidence in our policies. Look at China. Can you imagine any other country? Well last month the President comes and now this week the Premier. I mean, Malaysia’s relatively small emerging economy we are able to attract big power not because of Anwar, not because of chief minister. No, because we are a people united, peaceful, and focused on economic advancement and welfare for our people. That is precisely the reason.

 

18. So, in ensuring the success as the Chairman, I want to remind you that of course training is one, but make sure you have a role for the locals. Subcontractors, vendors, whatever agents, no commission agents, I mean, to work. Because it’s an important industry. It’s a border for sustainable development and yet again, what is the theme offer ASEAN this year for Malaysia? “Inclusivity and sustainability” and this project Green Project covers that sustainability or showcases as a model of sustainable.

 

19. So again, this is something very exciting for me to support and I must commend, you have worked together, discussed, argued, made demands just reasonable, accommodated one another based on trust, and built this country together.

 

20. I mean the same as I said as Petronas is working. Yeah, we have resolved a very difficult controversy. The issue is Sarawak, Petronas-Petros a win-win solution. Some people say, “Oh no no, they gain nothing.” They gain only in the shouting, using all these technical arguments to show that they are the champion of the Sabahans. When they are given the power, they entrust your power. They can only give timber and concessions and money but when they are out of power talking about politics they come for the people.

 

21. We judge people from the action, not mere promises. So, I believe that Sabahans should be matured enough to understand Sabah has to be competitive, focused on the economy. Sabah must focus with all its resources to ensure that you do train, upskill workers, and make the necessary adjustments.

 

22. You see, I speak this passion, I believe in this. Whatever is being said politically, we continue to have problems and purposes it doesn’t matter, every action is being with them. This morning, I explained about the so-called video which circulated after that and now I’m saying, anything they come and say, “Well, Anwar is only talking about the interest of semenanjung, not Sabah. What else do you want us to do? Engage with us, work as a team. The Federal Federation will only work if we are able to work with all the states including Sabah and Sarawak. Sabah can only succeed if we work and collaborate closely engage and benefit from your engagement with the Federal Government. We don’t want to win just by exhortations or isolation. We win through good engagement in getting things done.

 

23. I mentioned to the Chairman that we have not move, there is a moratorium steel industry being approved. But why came for Sabah? because number one, it’s green. Number two, it’s less capacity demand for Sabah, Sarawak, Kalimantan and their capacity is a big giant steel company to be able to export.

 

24. So, some company in Semenanjung would say, “Well, Anwar is discriminating against Malaya and favouring Sabah.” This sort of narrative and political gaming will continue but we decide what is best for the country. We decide what is best, which means no more new steel licensing in this country. We decide, yes, there should be one in Sabah and that’s how we govern this country.

 

25. So, thank you again, I don’t know what that he gave me last night. There’s a special tenom coffee but thank you again for collaboration Petronas is giving full focus on petroleum skills, PETRONAS Petroleum Skills Institute. That would be the insinuate, because the requirement although that is mainly for the oil and gas sector.

 

26. So, thank you Ketua Menteri, Hajiji, Chairman and thank you to the state for working together.

Terima kasih.