KOTA KINABALU: The State Government planned to beautify Pulau Gaya and turn it  into one of Sabah’s tourist attractions, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji  Haji Noor. 

“The idea has been there for quite some time and the current State Government is  planning to shift the people who are locals in Pulau Gaya to the mainland,” he said. 

Pulau Gaya, he said has the quality to become a good tourist attraction but the presence  of squatters on the island would not bode well with the plan. 

“Pulau Gaya has a special place in our history and it is located just about a five-minute  boat ride from the State Capital. We need to leverage on this,” he said at the Kembara  Kasih Ramadan programme at SK Pulau Gaya near here today 

The Chief Minister said the Putatan Parliament Office under Deputy Chief Minister Datuk  Shahelmey Yahya also planned to build a Health Clinic on the island. 

“What is important is that the people here continue to maintain unity, security and cleanliness,”  he said. 

Hajiji accompanied by Petagas Assemblyman Datuk Awang Ahmad Sah Awang Sahari  also presented school fees assistance to 70 pupils from the office of the Petagas  Assemblyman. 

Later, Hajiji together with Awang Ahmad Sah, Shahelmey, Minister of Science,  Technology and Innovation Datuk Ariffin Arif and Yayasan Sabah Director Datuk Ghulam  Haidar Bahadar Khan presented Aidil Fitri contributions to the community. 

Ends