Pulau Banggi, located north of Sabah about 50km off Kudat town, or about two hours by ferry and an hour by speedboat, has rustic charm, sandy beaches, scenic islands, great marine life and welcoming people.

PITAS assemblyman Datuk Bolkiah Ismail recently called for more attention to be given to Malaysia’s largest island, Pulau Banggi, off Kudat.

In driving home his message to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in a political gathering recently, Bolkiah said it was about time the status of the island was elevated.

His message drew much enthusiasm, not only from Najib and other political leaders, but also the thousands who turned up for the opening of Zone 1 Sabah Umno division delegates’ meeting.

Bolkiah, who hosted the gathering as Kudat Umno division chief, was presenting the request made by Banggi assemblyman Datuk Mijul Unaini.

Located north of Sabah about 50km off Kudat town, or about two hours by ferry and an hour by speed boat, the island yearns for more development. There are some 50 villages on the island, some big and some small, and the population hovers around 30,000.

“I know the government has tried and brought in a lot of progress on the island but more needs to be done,” said the state industrial development assistant minister.

Ten years ago, the Federal Government had pumped in millions for people on the island, including funding rubber tapping activities, but it failed to reach its fullest potential.

But for resident Kamali, who grew up in Limbuak on the island, who said that since much of the infrastructure meant to fulfil the agropolitan dream had been developed, it was time for a switch.

“Some communities have electricity, roads and water now; why stop there? The government should push on,” said the boatman, who was at the meeting as a delegate.

Bolkiah threw in suggestions like building an airport on the 440sq km island and turning it into a duty-free island, like Langkawi or Labuan.

“I have been told that many big companies want to invest in the island and develop its tourism potential. We need to look into all of these suggestions,” he said.

Pulau Banggi came into the limelight during the long drought earlier this year, with residents calling out for help to overcome water shortage problems.

The island comes under the Tun Mustapha Marine Park, the largest marine protected area and multi-use park in the country, gazetted earlier this year.

For several years now, with the opening of more facilities and infrastructure to boost tourism activities in the Kudat area, more visitors are heading north of Kota Kinabalu.

At Tampat Do Aman, a quaint eco-friendly facility that promotes traditional Rungus living, near Simpang Mengayau — otherwise known as the Tip of Borneo — a foreign guest, Gerhard, said he could see more people turning their attention to Kudat.

“This district offers rustic charm, sandy beaches, scenic islands, great marine life and welcoming people,” said the Austrian, who opined that if Banggi had better facilities, he would’ve stayed there for at least a week.

“I went there and paid for a drive around the island with some friends. It’s beautiful, the people are nice, the seafood was cheap but that was it. To arrange for a diving excursion, our host told us it had to be arranged from outside of the island and was rather expensive.”

Developments in Simpang Mengayau have attracted many visitors over the years and generated much-needed income for the native community that had little share in economic activities north of Sabah.

Major activities, such as the Sunset Orchestra, have also helped boost its popularity.

Randy, who works at a stall renting equipment at the beach, said he never thought he would meet surfers, photographers and star-gazers from all the over world at Simpang Mengayau.

“My family used to collect coconuts, remove the husks and dry its kernel for copra.

“That was about the only industry I knew as a young boy but in the last 15 years or so, things began to change slowly,” he said.

At the meeting, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman spoke of how he met Najib and discussed the need for Sabah to participate more in the national oil and gas company, Petronas.

“The prime minister heard our request and agreed for the state to have a representative in its board of directors,” he said, adding that the state Finance Ministry’s permanent secretary would be given the task.

His announcement drew loud cheers, and came just one day after Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem revealed that State Secretary Tan Sri Mohd Morshidi Abdul Ghani would also be appointed a board member of Petronas.

Musa said the prime minister listened to the needs of the people and delivers on what he promises.
Bolkiah is counting on him. （Written by Roy Goh，NST September 7, 2016）