TAWAU, 18 February 2026: Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal, President of the Sabah Heritage Party, expressed his agreement on the establishment of an Indian Consulate in Sabah.
He emphasized that the existence of the consulate is important to facilitate the affairs of investors from India coming to Sabah. The consulate can help manage investment matters, thereby opening job opportunities and enhancing business in the state. However, control aspects need to be given attention.
According to him, Sabah does not want a situation where foreign companies bring in their own workforce entirely, undermining job opportunities for local people. Therefore, job opportunities for local children must be ensured and expanded.
He is confident that this proposal should be received positively and not rejected outright. What is important is to look at it from the perspective of benefits and effective control mechanisms so that it can be managed well.
He added that in a world facing trade tariff issues and global economic challenges, Sabah needs to trade and establish relationships with various countries. Close relationships not only with China and India but also with other countries that have mature economies are important to attract investors to open industries in Sabah.
He also stated that India has a very good medical industry at the global level, alongside China, and this could be one of the sectors that benefits Sabah.
