He noted that Philippines remains attractive to Malaysian companies in terms of new and business expansion programmes in sectors like agriculture, tourism, infrastructure, IT, and human resource to name a few.
“I propose for Malaysia to set up a Consulate General in Zamboanga City," the Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) President said, adding he was convinced President Rodrigo Duterte's "Mindanao First" policy would be helpful for Zamboanga City and nearby areas.
"Setting up a Malaysian consulate in Zamboanga City is an old idea but raising the issue now is timely due to the existing favourable economic and business atmosphere," he said.
However, Yong admitted that setting up a Malaysian Consulate would take a few years even if the government agrees.
Meanwhile, it was reported earlier that the Philippine national carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) would begin its thrice-weekly nights from Zamboanga to the state capital starting March 31, 2020. The introduction of the route is seen as good news for the business community, trading fraternity and leisure travellers.
PAL will be using the 86-seater, Bombardier Q400 aircraft for the route.
In June this year, an official of the Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) said PAL Express, a subsidiary PAL, is looking into the possibility of launching regional flights within the Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East Asean Growth Area.
Assistant secretary Romeo M. Montenegro, Mindanao Development Authority (Minda) deputy executive director said PAL Express is currently looking into developing nights between Zamboanga City and Kota Kinabalu and between Davao City and Manado, Indonesia. Both the Zamboanga-Kota Kinabalu and Davao City-Manado routes have a travel time of around one hour.
"What we are now looking at, based on studies, that this will be beyond the two-point connectivity. For instance if they were able to serve the Davao City-Manado route, the travellers are not necessarily ending only in Manado but use it for other destinations," he said.
Montenegro added that Kota Kinabalu also has direct nights to other nations and travellers may use the Zamboanga-Kota Kinabalu as an alternative route to another country.
"Instead of Manila, flying out from Zamboanga may bring you closer to your destination," he said.
Montenegro said the airline is also looking into operating a triangular route for the the BIMP-Eaga regional flights similar to how Silk Air operates its Singapore-Davao City route.
He said they are also working closely with customs, immigration, quarantine, and security agencies to make sure that the Zamboanga City Airport is ready once the route is finalised and launched.
Montenegro said Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia have created its respective task force for the development of these nights. He through this inter-country efforts, they were able to address some regulation challenges or issues.
Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) Executive Director Janet M. Lopoz late last month said under the Mindanao Peace and Development Framework or the Mindanao 2020, more projects related to the development of people, productivity, poverty reduction, and peace would be rolled out next year.
She said the economic performance of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) will have a bearing on the overall growth of Mindanao, comprising the provinces of Caraga, Northern Mindanao, Soccsksar-gen, Zamboanga Peninsula, and BARMM.
According to the Philippine Statistic Authority, the GRDP of BARMM in 2018 stood by 7.2pc, the second strongest in Mindanao next to Davao Region's 8.6pc, and fourth strongest among the 17 regions in the country.
She said the changes that are happening in the peace and security condition in the Bangsamoro area will bear fruit soon.
"Recently, we have seen an upsurge in capital investments in new businesses starting to look into locations and have been talking to Bangsamoro government about it," she said.
"The development in the Bangsamoro will really help pull up a lot of the Mindanao figures at the end. We are excited, as we are now preparing for a lot of new projects that are coming out next year,” she added.
By Nikko Fabian
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