PUTRAJAYA: Malaysia and Brunei have reaffirmed the importance of strengthening connectivity between Brunei Darussalam, Sabah and Sarawak as the foundation for deeper economic integration and stronger people-to-people ties.
In a joint statement issued in conjunction with the 26th Malaysia-Brunei Annual Leaders’ Consultation (ALC) today, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah welcomed Royal Brunei (RB) Airlines’ efforts to enhance air connectivity with Sabah and Sarawak.
According to a TVS news report, the two leaders noted that one of the key initiatives implemented was the signing of a memorandum of cooperation between RB and the Sabah Tourism Board on June 30.
“Through this initiative, it is expected to strengthen the tourism sector and expand access to major regions by 2028,” the statement said.
Both leaders also looked forward to boosting economic cooperation through commercial rice cultivation and integrated livestock projects, capitalising on Sabah and Sarawak’s agricultural resources.
They expressed confidence that these initiatives would contribute towards food security, supply chain resilience and broader market access.
The statement also highlighted cooperation between the Unified National Network (Brunei Darussalam) and SACOFA (Sarawak) to sign a new seven-year agreement starting 2026 under a business-to-business model for broadband leasing in the telecommunications sector.
Anwar and Sultan Hassanal further acknowledged the role of the private sector in driving economic cooperation and welcomed the establishment of the Brunei Darussalam-Sabah and Brunei Darussalam-Sarawak Joint Business Councils.
At the same time, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the Sarawak Trade and Tourism Office (STATOS) in Bandar Seri Begawan last year.
The ALC remains the highest bilateral mechanism between Malaysia and Brunei, serving as a platform to review the progress of cooperation, address outstanding issues, and exchange views on regional and international developments.
In 2024, Brunei was Malaysia’s sixth-largest trading partner within ASEAN, with total trade recorded at RM7.53 billion.
