Latest news with #SabahTVETCouncil
Daily Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
TVET way to shape future and drive growth: Chief Minister
Published on: Thursday, July 10, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 10, 2025 Text Size: Joachim launches the event by connecting a battery device using a battery clamp. Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Government fully supports efforts to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem to ensure that Sabah's youths remain competitive in the job market and are no longer trapped in the cycle of unemployment. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the establishment of the Sabah TVET Council in May this year marked an important paradigm shift in the State's TVET development landscape. 'TVET can no longer be seen merely as an option. It must be embraced as a mainstream choice in efforts to produce a skilled workforce that can shape Sabah's future. 'TVET not only equips individuals with technical skills, but also empowers them, creates job opportunities and serves as a catalyst for the State's economic growth,' he said at the opening ceremony of the Sabah TVET Symposium, here, Wednesday. The text of his speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam. Hajiji added that the State Government recognises that technical and vocational skills form the backbone of Sabah's development, particularly given its rich potential in natural resources, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing. 'However, to sustain the growth of these sectors, we need highly skilled human capital that can meet the demands of Sabah's increasingly vibrant industries. 'I also urge the youths to view TVET as a primary choice, not merely an alternative, when planning their future. TVET should be seen as a smart pathway that can produce future professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators,' he said. 'Sabah's youths must seize the opportunity to participate in TVET programmes, as the courses offered today are aligned with current job market demands, thereby ensuring the marketability of graduates,' he said. Hajiji noted that in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) and the rapid wave of digitalisation, skills in technical fields, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) have become highly valuable assets. 'If Sabah's youths are not equipped with these skills, we risk being left behind in this wave of change. Therefore, TVET is the best platform to develop a highly skilled workforce that can drive Sabah's progress,' he said. He said the State Government's commitment to human capital development is clearly reflected through various initiatives and strategic investments. The latest statistics indicate that Sabah's unemployment rate has decreased from around 8.2 per cent in 2021 to 7.5 per cent in 2023. 'Although this rate remains higher than the national unemployment rate, the downward trend is encouraging and reflects the effectiveness of various economic and human capital development initiatives undertaken by the Government,' he said. However, Hajiji noted that data from the Department of Statistics showed Sabah still faces challenges, with youths aged 15 to 24 accounting for more than half - 58.6 per cent - of the State's total unemployed. Additionally, 55.8 per cent of unemployed individuals in Sabah possess only secondary school qualifications. 'These figures clearly show that many of our youths require skills training and further education to improve their employability,' he said. In this regard, he said the symposium, themed 'Sustainable TVET for the Future of Sabah's Human Capital: An Integrated TVET Ecosystem', is highly relevant to the current needs of Sabah. Hajiji expressed hope that participants would take full advantage of the two-day symposium to foster stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry players. * 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
Borneo Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
Strengthening TVET to break cycle of unemployment among Sabah youth - Hajiji
Joachim launches the event by connecting a battery device using a battery clamp. KOTA KINABALU (July 9): The Sabah government fully supports efforts to strengthen the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) ecosystem to ensure that Sabah's youth remain competitive in the job market and are no longer trapped in the cycle of unemployment. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the establishment of the Sabah TVET Council in May this year marked an important paradigm shift in the state's TVET development landscape. 'TVET can no longer be seen merely as an option. It must be embraced as a mainstream choice in efforts to produce a skilled workforce that can shape Sabah's future. 'TVET not only equips individuals with technical skills, but also empowers them, creates job opportunities, and serves as a catalyst for the state's economic growth,' he said at the opening ceremony of the Sabah TVET Symposium here Wednesday. The text of his speech was read by Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Dr Joachim Gunsalam. Hajiji added that the state government recognises that technical and vocational skills form the backbone of Sabah's development, particularly given its rich potential in natural resources, oil and gas, agriculture, tourism, and manufacturing. 'However, to sustain the growth of these sectors, we need highly skilled human capital that can meet the demands of Sabah's increasingly vibrant industries. 'I also urge the youth to view TVET as a primary choice, not merely an alternative, when planning their future. TVET should be seen as a smart pathway that can produce future professionals, entrepreneurs, and innovators,' he said. 'Sabah's youth must seize the opportunity to participate in TVET programmes, as the courses offered today are aligned with current job market demands, thereby ensuring the marketability of graduates,' he said. Hajiji noted that in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) and the rapid wave of digitalisation, skills in technical fields, automation, and artificial intelligence (AI) have become highly valuable assets. 'If Sabah's youth are not equipped with these skills, we risk being left behind in this wave of change. Therefore, TVET is the best platform to develop a highly skilled workforce that can drive Sabah's progress,' he said. He said that the state government's commitment to human capital development is clearly reflected through various initiatives and strategic investments. The latest statistics indicate that Sabah's unemployment rate has decreased from around 8.2 per cent in 2021 to 7.5 per cent in 2023. 'Although this rate remains higher than the national unemployment rate, the downward trend is encouraging and reflects the effectiveness of various economic and human capital development initiatives undertaken by the government,' he said. However, Hajiji noted that data from the Department of Statistics showed that Sabah still faces challenges, with youth aged 15 to 24 accounting for more than half – 58.6 per cent – of the state's total unemployed. Additionally, 55.8 per cent of unemployed individuals in Sabah possess only secondary school qualifications. 'These figures clearly show that many of our youths require skills training and further education to improve their employability,' he said. In this regard, he said the symposium, themed 'Sustainable TVET for the Future of Sabah's Human Capital: An Integrated TVET Ecosystem', is highly relevant to the current needs of Sabah. Hajiji expressed hope that participants would take full advantage of the two-day symposium to foster stronger collaboration between educational institutions and industry players.
Daily Express
08-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah invests RM1.33 billion in human capital under SMJ Plan
Published on: Tuesday, July 08, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jul 08, 2025 By: Ricardo Unto Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Sabah spent RM1.33 billion on human capital development from 2021 to 2024 under SMJ 1.0, including RM848.26 million for education aid and RM485 million for talent development, said Assistant Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan. Fourteen new initiatives worth RM164.14 million benefited over 210,000 students. The Sabah TVET Council, launched in May 2025, now oversees 160 technical institutions. For social wellbeing, RM1.49 billion was disbursed to 336,076 recipients, and the SMJ Friendly Homes Initiative has delivered or is building 7,482 homes. The Syukur programme supports 100,000 low-income households with RM300 monthly. In health, 100 haemodialysis machines worth RM4.5 million were distributed, with RM4 million more in treatment subsidies. The 'Program Homeward' has helped 1,169 people so far. Sabah is also expanding conservation areas, with 2 million hectares of land under Totally Protected Areas and a goal of 2.2 million hectares by 2025. Marine Protected Areas now cover 1.015 million hectares. * Read full report in tomorrow's print paper or log in or sign up for e-paper and premium online news access. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Foreign claims dismissed, Sabah's sovereignty remains intact
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia's success in fending off foreign claims over Sabah reaffirms the state's sovereignty under the Federation of Malaysia and offers assurance and relief to the people of Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 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.
The Sun
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Sabah CM reaffirms sovereignty, boosts development plans
KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia's success in fending off foreign claims over Sabah reaffirms the state's sovereignty under the Federation of Malaysia and offers assurance and relief to the people of Sabah, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor. 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.
