The Malaysian state of Sabah is planning to build a one-kilometer (1km) drag strip, not just to satisfy the appetite of high-speed enthusiasts, but also to stimulate the growth of its own automotive industry.

Supported by State Industrial Development Minister Datuk Seri Raymond Tan, the drag strip would be one of the first steps to making Sabah a strategic center for racing and the automotive business in general.

"We have already come up with a project plan. I will work with Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP) on how we can quicken the process," Tan said of the drag strip during the 2017 Thailand-Sabah Business Matching and Networking organized by the Kadazandusun Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI).

The drag strip will be part of a proposed KKIP Auto City project, which would serve as a hub that brings automobile enthusiasts together. Around 200-acres of land have been designated for the project.

The project will also hopefully promote closer ties between Sabah and Thailand, which already has a strong drag racing presence.

As of now, the project is in its infancy and planning stages with an emphasis on driver safety.

Tan added that he is still talking with established automobile assembly companies in Malaysia while at the same time welcoming other potential partners, including from Thailand.

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