Nearly RM1 billion on educations, skills since GRS Government came to power in Sabah: Chief Minister
Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 Text Size: Dr Joachim (fourth left) presents a certificate of appreciation for strategic partnership in conjunction with National Training Week (NTW 2025) state-level to Zara Boutique Hotel Kota Kinabalu Chief Executive Officer, Datuk Eliza Goh. Kota Kinabalu: Human capital development remains a central pillar in driving Sabah's economic agenda, particularly in tapping into the vast potential of the rapidly growing blue economy sector. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this approach is essential to ensure Sabahans possess the skills and knowledge relevant to current demands, in line with the evolving global economic landscape.
Advertisement 'The world has changed, and we must change with it. We can no longer rely on outdated systems. Therefore, we need a competitive and highly skilled workforce to propel the State's development,' he said when officiating the Sabah Blue Economy Skillfest 2025 at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), Thursday. His speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister II cum Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam. Hajiji said the State Government, through the Hala Tuju Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan, continues to formulate inclusive and sustainable development policies, prioritising the upskilling of the people to navigate the new economic era. 'Sabah is rich in marine resources. Therefore, it is our responsibility to ensure the people are equipped to harness this potential in a sustainable and knowledgeable way.'
Advertisement Hajiji said from 2021 to 2024, the State Government allocated RM848.26 million through four key education channels, benefitting nearly 245,953 recipients. These include RM227.1 million under the Sabah State Education Fund (benefitting 7,483 recipients), RM324.1 million under the State Government Scholarship (13,640 recipients), RM164.14 million in education aid from the Deputy State Secretary Office (Special Tasks) (210,918 recipients) and RM132.92 million in assistance and loans from Yayasan Sabah (13,921 recipients). 'For this year, the State Government has allocated another RM497.54 million to continue its human capital empowerment agenda aimed at producing a generation that is competent, innovative and full of integrity,' he said. Hajiji also commended HRD Corp for successfully training 61,448 workers in Sabah throughout 2024, with funding exceeding RM58.2 million. 'I am confident that initiatives such as this Skillfest will create even more new job opportunities in sectors related to the blue economy,' he said. He noted that Skillfest is one of the key efforts to strengthen skills training in the blue economy sector, which includes industries such as mariculture, fisheries, marine energy, marine tourism and ocean technology research and development. 'Skillfest 2025 aims to attract 2,500 participants and is part of the National Training Week (NTW) 2025 – Sabah, which targets over 67,000 participants statewide this year,' he said. He also praised the strategic collaboration between HRD Corporation and the Sabah Maju Jaya Secretariat (SSMJ) in organising the programme, as it supports the Government's goal to expand lifelong learning opportunities for all citizens regardless of background. He said the programme is a continuation of the success of the Sabah International Blue Economy Conference (SIBEC) 2024, which gained global attention and positioned Sabah as a key player in the regional blue economy. Hajiji called on young Sabahans to make the most of the opportunities and hoped such programmes would be expanded across the State as part of a continuous learning ecosystem. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
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