Labuan Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LICCI) called for the Federal Lands and Mines Department (KPTG) to expedite the approval of land for its commercial building and office.

Its Chairman, Datuk Dahlif Singh, said the chamber’s efforts to set up its own building has been in the cards since they were established 30 years ago in 1989.

“We have been running for 30 years without a commercial building and office of our own...We would even have to utilise the Labuan Corporation facility to hold our meetings.

“And we share the same fate as all the other chambers in Labuan, except for the Chinese Chamber of Commerce here which already has its building at the town centre,” he said.

Dahlif, who spoke at the chamber’s annual dinner in conjunction with its 30th anniversary, shared that they have previously applied for a lot and have sent in support letters from Labuan MP Datuk Rozman Isli to the previous Chief Secretary to the Government.

“However, since the change of Government, our application has been put on hold.

“We have just submitted another application and would like the relevant parties such as Labuan Corporation, the Federal Ministry and the KPTG to reconsider our application and expedite its process of approval,” he urged. 

Dahlif added that the development of the seven chambers of commerce here should be on par with those in Sabah and the Peninsula.

“We hope that the land approved could be fully utilised by all the chambers, especially those which have yet to set up their commercial centres and offices.

“We are vying for the lot next to the Pulau Labuan 2 Hotel which is spacious enough for the four other chambers including ours to set up office,” he shared.

He said the land approved should be at a strategic location, most suited in the town area to run businesses.