Federal Territories and Urban Well-being Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal on Monday suggested that a development plan based on the New Economic Model (NEM) be drafted for Labuan.

"After 25 years of becoming a federal territory, there is still imbalance in economic distribution among the locals. Many are still left behind, especially in the business sector and high-earning jobs," he said in a meeting with heads of government departments and agencies here Monday.

He said the plan should encompass the essence of the NEM and quality life for the people, meaning that there would be no more hardcore poor or poor in Labuan.

"In this context, I'm happy to inform that the Federal Territory of Labuan will achieve zero per cent hardcore poor by end of this month.

"However, we cannot stop here because there are still 229 households registered as poor. Therefore, poverty eradication programme has to continue," he added.

On the proposed bridge linking Labuan to the Sabah mainland, Raja Nong Chik said his ministry was still waiting for the final report from the Sabah government before it could brief the Economic Planning Unit on the viability of the project.

A feasibility study by experts of Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak found that a 11km bridge was needed in view of limited air services to the island and the uncomfortable ferry services.