Tawau Safma to be leased out

Daily Express
26-10-2001

Kota Kinabalu: Sabah Fisheries Marketing (Safma) Tawau would be leased out to a company beginning Nov. 1 for five years in an experimental move by the State Government to assist in easing the agency's financial burden.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Lajim Ukin said Safma, which is currently operating as usual, was also given a one-year notice to show it can increase income and be independent.

"We are leasing the Safma (Tawau) for five years and Safma can only get RM70,000 monthly for rental of its complex in Tawau while the company would handle all its workers' salaries, who would also remain as Safma staff," he said. However, this would not involve Safma here.

It was learnt that Safma Tawau is one of the better branches of Safma and it was reported that the management has moved funds from Tawau to its headquarters in order to help pay its personnel here.

Note: Safma was leased out to Fokasjadi Sdn. Bhd., a company owned by Datuk Elbert Lim. Datuk Lajim was said to have a monthly share paid under table. It is now used mainly for the import of logs, not fish, from Indonesia