Sabah CM reaffirms sovereignty, boosts development plans
He expressed gratitude to the federal government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the government's commitment to protecting the rights and sovereignty of the state.
He said that the state government greatly values the various forms of assistance and initiatives provided by the federal government, particularly in areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and security.
'The strong ties and close cooperation with the federal government will continue to be upheld to ensure that Sabah is not left behind in national development,' he said.
Hajiji said this in his address at the 2025 Sabah State Honours and Awards investiture ceremony held at Istana Seri Kinabalu today, where 60 individuals were conferred state honours, awards and medals by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sabah, Tun Musa Aman.
Hajiji also gave his assurance that the implementation of inclusive and comprehensive development policies under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) roadmap will be further enhanced as part of ongoing efforts to ensure the progress and well-being of Sabahans.
He said that since its introduction, the road map has had a significant impact, particularly in areas such as economic recovery, investment, agriculture, human capital development, and the overall well-being of the people.
He added that the state government is focusing on the development of the agricultural sector, which plays a crucial role in ensuring food security in Sabah, noting that the key initiatives include the establishment of the Sabah Padi and Rice Board (LPBS) and the launch of the Paddy Crop Takaful Scheme (STTP), aimed at raising the state's rice self-sufficiency level from the current 24 per cent to 60 per cent by 2030.
Hajiji also said the state government has approved the establishment of the Sabah TVET Council to coordinate and monitor technical and vocational education and training in line with current industry needs.
'We want to ensure that Sabah's youth are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to contribute to the development of the state and the nation,' he added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Borneo Post
an hour ago
- Borneo Post
Sabah boosts higher education with RM136 million scholarship
Mohd Arifin presents the Domestic Higher Education Student Contribution (SENTOSA) at the ceremony held at the Chancellor Hall, Universiti Malaysia Sabah on Sunday. KOTA KINABALU (July 20): The State Government continues to strengthen its commitment to higher education development through targeted initiatives, including the highest-ever allocation of RM136 million this year for the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS). Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor said the significant increase from RM50 million in 2020 to RM136 million this year reflects the government's determination to ensure that all Sabahans have access to higher education, regardless of their socio-economic background. 'This is the government's long-term investment in developing high-quality and competitive human capital. We do not want Sabah's children to be left behind in education simply because of financial constraints,' he said. His speech was delivered by Science, Technology and Innovation Minister cum Education Exco, Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, during the presentation ceremony of the Sumbangan Mahasiswa Pengajian Tinggi Dalam Negeri Sabah (SENTOSA) at Dewan Canselor, Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) on Sunday. Hajiji said a total of 4,170 students will benefit from BKNS sponsorships this year, in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) policy, which positions education as a key pillar of the state's progress. He added that RM77.5 million has also been allocated this year for 13 educational aid initiatives, benefiting schools, Parent-Teacher Associations (PIBG), students in higher learning institutions (IPT), as well as Sabah student associations within and outside Malaysia. Among the key initiatives are the one-off Bantuan Tunai Pendaftaran IPT (BUDI), the Bantuan Ihsan Komputer (BAIK), the Sekretariat Mahasiswa Sabah Malaysia (SEMESTA), and the Bantuan Tiket Penerbangan Pelajar Sabah (GRS-SUBFLY). In addition, Yayasan Sabah contributed RM67.17 million last year for educational development, benefitting 3,234 students. Meanwhile, the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS), through its Zakat and Fitrah Division, has disbursed RM92.4 million over the past five years, helping more than 48,000 students. The Tabung Pendidikan Negeri Sabah (TPNS), introduced in June 2022, has assisted nearly 10,104 recipients, with a total expenditure of RM15.8 million. The SENTOSA aid programme, launched last March at IPG Gaya Campus, involves an allocation of RM6 million and aims to benefit 20,000 Bumiputera Sabah students in local higher education institutions. 'This assistance aims to ease students' financial burden, particularly for essential needs and travel costs. It also reflects the government's commitment to ensuring no student is left behind,' he said. At the event, Hajiji presented the one-off SENTOSA cash aid of RM300 each to over 600 students — comprising 319 from UMS and 323 from MAHSA College Sabah — who had not previously received the assistance. 'I hope the students will fully utilise the aid provided and continue striving for excellence in their respective fields for the future of the state and the nation,' he added.
Daily Express
an hour ago
- Daily Express
Over 4,000 students to benefit from Sabah scholarship boost
Published on: Sunday, July 20, 2025 Published on: Sun, Jul 20, 2025 Text Size: Arifin and others with some of the aid recipients. - Pic by CMD KOTA KINABALU: The State Government has allocated a record RM136 million this year under the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS) to strengthen access to higher education. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said this marked a significant increase from RM50 million in 2020, reflecting the government's commitment to supporting Sabahans regardless of socio-economic background. Advertisement Hajiji, in a speech delivered by State Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif at the Sentosa aid presentation ceremony at UMS on Sunday, said 4,170 students will benefit from the BKNS this year in line with the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) policy. He added that RM77.5 million has been allocated for 13 education aid initiatives in 2024, including Budi, Baik, Semesta and GRS-Subfly, while Yayasan Sabah and Muis also contributed significantly through separate programmes. At the same event, over 600 students from UMS and Kolej Mahsa Sabah received a one-off RM300 cash aid under the Sentosa initiative, aimed at easing basic expenses for nearly 20,000 Bumiputera students in local institutions. * 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. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Barnama
an hour ago
- Barnama
Sabah Allocates RM136 Mln In Scholarships This Year To Develop Quality Human Capital
KOTA KINABALU, July 20 (Bernama) -- The Sabah government has allocated RM136 million for the Sabah State Government Scholarship (BKNS) this year as its continuous commitment to strengthening the development of higher education in the state, Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said. The allocation is the highest so far, which has risen significantly compared to RM50 million in 2020, reflecting the determination of the state government to ensure its youth, regardless of socio-economic background, have a chance to further their studies, he added. 'This is the government's long-term investment project to develop quality human capital that is competitive. We don't want young Sabahans to be left behind in education due to financial constraints,' he said in his speech read by Sabah Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif at the Sabah university student aid presentation (SENTOSA) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah here today.
