Latest news with #YayasanSabahGroup
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
Yayasan Sabah extends 30% Madani loan rebate programme
Gulamhaidar KOTA KINABALU (June 30): Following an overwhelmingly positive response, Yayasan Sabah Group is extending the 30 per cent Madani Rebate Programme for its education loan borrowers. Initially set to end on 30 June 2025, the programme will continue for another three months until 30 September 2025. Through this programme, Yayasan Sabah Group education loan borrowers interested in fully settling their loans are eligible for a special rebate of 30 per cent on their outstanding loan balance. This substantial rebate is aimed at easing the financial burden on borrowers. It is part of Yayasan Sabah Group's initiative to encourage more borrowers to fulfill their repayment responsibilities and to expedite the recycling of funds for future students pursuing higher education. Since the programme's introduction on 1 April 2025, a total of RM232,817 rebates have been enjoyed by 96 borrowers who fully settled their loans as of 20 June 2025, nearly three months after the programme's launch. Yayasan Sabah Group has also successfully collected RM651,680 in lump sum repayments from borrowers who took up this rebate offer. According to the director of Yayasan Sabah, Dato' Sri Haji Gulamhaidar bin Khan Bahadar, 'This rebate is a manifestation of the Yayasan Sabah Group management's concern for the target group to ease their repayment commitments, in line with our role in complementing the government's efforts in advancing education development. Yayasan Sabah Group's education loan borrowers who can participate in this programme are urged to seize this opportunity to enjoy this significant 30 per cent rebate.' 'To attract more Yayasan Sabah Group education loan borrowers to take up this 30 per cent rebate offer through lump sum settlement, Yayasan Sabah Group is also offering exciting prizes through a lucky draw. Among the prizes are a three-day two-night stay package at Borneo Rainforest Lodge, Lahad Datu, for two people worth over RM8,000, along with more than 20 other attractive prizes sponsored by the Yayasan Sabah Group's subsidiaries,' he added. 'In addition, Yayasan Sabah Group education loan borrowers who have yet to start repaying their loans or have stopped making instalment payments and thus have outstanding arrears, are urged to fulfil their obligations stipulated in their loan agreements. Compliance with loan repayments will contribute to the sustainability of Yayasan Sabah Group's revolving education sponsorship fund, especially as the number of future sponsorship applicants is expected to increase significantly,' he further explained. He continued, 'In conjunction with the current intake season for higher education institutions and in line with the rising demand for sponsorship, previous beneficiaries of the Yayasan Sabah Group sponsorship are reminded not to neglect their responsibility to settle their education loan repayments, to allow new students the opportunity to pursue their studies.' Yayasan Sabah Group also announced enhancements to the Education Loan Repayment Portal, which was launched in March 2025 as a platform to facilitate borrowers in making repayments and obtaining information related to their loan accounts. 'These enhancements, which will take effect starting August 2025, will allow Yayasan Sabah Group education loan borrowers to register for access to various services offered through the portal. Among the services that can be applied for via this portal include loan rescheduling requests, deferment applications, salary deduction payment arrangements, annual statement requests, and borrower information updates,' he explained. For more information regarding these portal enhancements, borrowers can visit the portal at which contains user guides for registration and available services. Additionally, the public may visit Facebook KYS-Kumpulan Yayasan Sabah, or contact 011-3318 1088 / email [email protected] for further details regarding the extension of the Madani Rebate Programme and the enhancements to the Yayasan Sabah Group's education loan repayment portal.
Daily Express
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Yayasan Sabah extends 30 pc Madani Loan Rebate to September
Published on: Monday, June 30, 2025 Published on: Mon, Jun 30, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Yayasan Sabah Group has extended its 30 percent Madani Loan Rebate Programme until 30 September 2025, following strong public response. The initiative, launched on 1 April, allows borrowers who fully settle their education loans to enjoy the rebate on their outstanding balance. As of 20 June, 96 borrowers have benefited, with RM232,817 in rebates issued and RM651,680 collected in lump-sum repayments. 'This programme eases borrowers' financial burden while supporting the sustainability of our education fund,' said Director Dato' Sri Haji Gulamhaidar Khan Bahadar, urging eligible borrowers to act. To encourage participation, Yayasan Sabah is also offering lucky draw prizes, including a luxury stay at the Borneo Rainforest Lodge. In addition, enhancements to the Education Loan Repayment Portal will roll out in August, allowing users to manage deferments, rescheduling, salary deductions, and more. Visit or call 011-33181088 for details. * 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
Daily Express
24-06-2025
- Science
- Daily Express
New hub for tropical rainforest research to put Sabah on the map
Published on: Tuesday, June 24, 2025 Published on: Tue, Jun 24, 2025 Text Size: The Langom Control Centre and Research Station, nestled in the Danum Valley Conservation Area, is ready to serve as Sabah's new hub for tropical rainforest research. Kota Kinabalu: Yayasan Sabah Group, in collaboration with the Sabah Forestry Department, is set to mark another significant milestone in Sabah's environmental efforts with the launching of the Langom Control Centre and Research Station on June 24. The launching ceremony will be held in the heart of the Danum Valley Conservation Area, Lahad Datu, underscoring the State's commitment to forest restoration and biodiversity research. As part of Malaysia's ongoing commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia allocated RM5.6 million toward a major infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening scientific research and ecosystem management in Sabah. According to the Director of Yayasan Sabah, Dato' Sri Haji Gulamhaidar @ Yusof bin Khan Bahadar, the project centres on the Langom Control Centre and Research Station, located within the buffer zone of the Danum Valley Conservation Area. 'With its strategic location and comprehensive infrastructure, the Langom Research Station is positioned to become a regional hub for biodiversity studies, sustainable land management practices, and educational initiatives vital to protecting Sabah's tropical rainforest ecosystem,' he said. Construction of the Langom Research Station commenced in November 2021. In 2024, the station was fully constructed and operational. Advertisement The facility includes infrastructure for research teams, space for environmental education workshops, field training facilities, and eco-tourism engagement areas, making it a versatile and sustainable research base in one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in Southeast Asia. 'To strengthen environmental awareness at the grassroots level, Yayasan Sabah Group also launched the Sabah Nature Club Adopt-a-School Programme, along-term initiative aimed at cultivating a deep, practical understanding of nature among schoolchildren,' he said. The programme emphasises experiential, outdoor-based learning where students are not only taught about the environment but are immersed in it, encouraging them to observe, question, and connect directly with the natural world. 'By bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world ecological experience, this programme seeks to instil sustainable thinking from a young age, nurture future conservation leaders, and foster meaningful school-community engagement. 'The programme's initial phase will focus on three secondary schools in Lahad Datu: SMK Sepagaya Lahad Datu, SMK St Dominic Lahad Datu and SMK Agaseh Lahad Datu. 'These schools have been identified as strategic partners based on their location, student population, and potential for impactful outreach,' said Gulamhaidar. 'The launch of Langom Control Centre and Research Station marks a major step toward a greener, more sustainable Sabah. It represents our ongoing commitment to biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and inclusive environmental education. 'We envision Langom as more than just a research facility. It will be a living classroom and a collaborative platform for multiple stakeholders.' He said this will place Langom on the map as a centre of excellence in conservation and reaffirm Yayasan Sabah Group and the Sabah Forestry Department's shared responsibility to safeguard Sabah's natural heritage. * 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
23-06-2025
- Science
- Borneo Post
Yayasan Sabah expands conservation frontier with Langom Control Centre and Research Station
The Langom Control Centre and Research Station, nestled in the Danum Valley Conservation Area, is ready to serve as Sabah's new hub for tropical rainforest research. KOTA KINABALU (June 23): Yayasan Sabah Group, in collaboration with the Sabah Forestry Department, is set to mark another significant milestone in Sabah's environmental efforts with the official launch of the Langom Control Centre and Research Station on June 24. The launch will take place in the heart of the Danum Valley Conservation Area, Lahad Datu, underscoring the State's commitment to forest restoration and biodiversity research. As part of Malaysia's ongoing commitment to sustainable development and environmental stewardship under the 12th Malaysia Plan (RMK-12), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Malaysia has allocated RM5.6 million toward a major infrastructure initiative aimed at strengthening scientific research and ecosystem management in Sabah. According to the director of Yayasan Sabah, Dato' Sri Haji Gulamhaidar @ Yusof bin Khan Bahadar, 'This project centres on the Langom Control Centre and Research Station, located within the buffer zone of the Danum Valley Conservation Area. With its strategic location and comprehensive infrastructure, the Langom Research Station is positioned to become a regional hub for biodiversity studies, sustainable land management practices, and educational initiatives vital to protecting Sabah's tropical rainforest ecosystem.' Construction of the Langom Research Station commenced in November 2021. In 2024, the station was fully constructed and operational. The facility includes infrastructure for research teams, space for environmental education workshops, field training facilities, and eco-tourism engagement areas, making it a versatile and sustainable research base in one of the richest biodiversity hotspots in Southeast Asia. 'To strengthen environmental awareness at the grassroots level, Yayasan Sabah Group also launched the Sabah Nature Club Adopt-a-School Programme, a long-term initiative aimed at cultivating a deep, practical understanding of nature among schoolchildren,' he said. The programme emphasises experiential, outdoor-based learning where students are not only taught about the environment but are immersed in it, encouraging them to observe, question and connect directly with the natural world. 'By bridging the gap between classroom theory and real-world ecological experience, this programme seeks to instil sustainable thinking from a young age, nurture future conservation leaders, and foster meaningful school-community engagement. The programme's initial phase will focus on three secondary schools in Lahad Datu: SMK Sepagaya Lahad Datu, SMK St. Dominic Lahad Datu and SMK Agaseh Lahad Datu. These schools have been identified as strategic partners based on their location, student population and potential for impactful outreach,' explained Gulamhaidar. 'The launch of Langom Control Centre and Research Station marks a major step toward a greener, more sustainable Sabah. It represents our ongoing commitment to biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration and inclusive environmental education. We envision Langom as more than just a research facility. It will be a living classroom and a collaborative platform for multiple stakeholders,'he added. He explained further, 'This launch will place Langom on the map as a centre of excellence in conservation and reaffirm Yayasan Sabah Group and the Sabah Forestry Department's shared responsibility to safeguard Sabah's natural heritage for generations to come.'
Barnama
23-06-2025
- General
- Barnama
The Untold Journey Of Inikea's Forest Restoration Project
T hey trekked and camped for weeks deep in the forests of Sabah, not to hunt wildlife but to carry out mapping and collect millions of seeds and wildings, some no larger than a thumb. The wildings – offspring of existing trees growing in the wild without cultivation – and seeds were then germinated in a special nursery and replanted in what would become the foundation of one of Malaysia's, and arguably the world's, most successful forest rehabilitation project, the Innoprise-IKEA (INIKEA) Tropical Rainforest Project in Luasong in the district of Tawau, Sabah, located about 358 kilometres from the state capital Kota Kinabalu. Among the unsung heroes of the project were the locals, including youths, who were roped in to assist the experts with the fieldwork and to diligently oversee the rehabilitation efforts. This project got off the ground in June 1998 following a memorandum of understanding between Yayasan Sabah Group's investment arm Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd (ICSB) and Swedish furniture retail company IKEA's Sow-a-Seed Foundation. The groundbreaking project encompassed the rehabilitation of 14,009 hectares of rainforest in the Kalabakan Forest Reserve in Luasong decimated by a severe drought and subsequent wildfires from 1982 to 1983, as well as continuous logging activities. One of Malaysia's largest and longest-running forest rehabilitation initiatives, the INIKEA project involved the replanting of approximately five million seedlings representing around 92 indigenous tree species. In March this year, Bernama reported that the initiators of the over 20-year-long project are now setting their sights on an ambitious goal – transforming the restored rainforest into the world's first 'Living Rainforest Restoration Lab' that will serve as a centre of excellence for knowledge on tropical rainforest restoration. THE PROJECT Yayasan Sabah Group staff Vita Juin @ Victor, Nizam Jaafar and Salimang Jan Yang, who were among those who played pivotal roles in ensuring the success of the INIKEA initiative, recently spoke to Bernama about their experiences working on the project. Vita, 57, from Kuala Penyu, is now the acting officer in charge of the INIKEA project. He was a senior forest ranger when he was brought on board the INIKEA project in late 1998, where he was responsible for supervising the nursery in Luasong where seedlings of wild tree species were meticulously cultivated for replanting in the degraded forest. Nizam (left) and his colleague, Jecklish Anil, dwarfed by tall trees in the INIKEA rehabilitation project in Luasong, Tawau, Sabah. Salimang, 48, from Luasong, was the first woman to work at the INIKEA project nursery when she joined in June 1998. Nizam, 47, from Tuaran, and now a Yayasan Sabah border guard specifically for the INIKEA project area, was only 20 when he joined INIKEA in June 1998 and was tasked with surveying and mapping the degraded areas slated for restoration. His immediate assignment was to lead a team of eight Yayasan Sabah staff to survey and map the proposed rehabilitation area, armed with maps and compasses. Nizam said they embarked on their surveying and mapping work at the head of the Kalabakan River and spent the next three months completing the job. 'We found out that most of the burnt forest was already dominated by Macaranga trees and shrubs, which made traversing the area incredibly challenging. 'We were also shocked to come across a group of people still engaged in logging activities. They were equally surprised when we explained that we were surveying the area in preparation for rehabilitation,' Nizam told Bernama. He said the difficult terrain, hilly landscapes and unpredictable weather often hampered their progress. Nizam also vividly recalls the dangers they faced in the early days of the project. 'Once, we were almost swept away by a sudden surge of the river water. Another time, one of our group members was bitten by a snake but fortunately, someone in the team knew how to treat it with the bark of the Binuang tree. We also had a participant who contracted malaria,' he said. Recounting a particularly eerie incident they experienced whilst performing their tasks, he said: 'Our team was split into two groups, agreeing to regroup at a set time. 'But, later, although we could hear each other's voices, my group could not find the other even though we were only a few metres apart,' he said. Having practically grown up alongside the INIKEA project – which took more than two decades to complete – Nizam hoped the initiative's success would inspire global appreciation for rainforest restoration. REHABILITATING THE FOREST Vita and Salimang, meanwhile, spent the early years of the INIKEA project collecting seeds and wildings, focusing mainly on timber trees of the Dipterocarpaceae family, which is a vital component of Borneo's rainforest ecosystem. The seeds and wildings, gathered for germination at the Luasong nursery, were not only collected from the forest in the Luasong district but also from forests in the districts of Sandakan, Lahad Datu and Keningau. Salimang Jan Yang, the first woman to work in the INIKEA nursery at Luasong. 'In the early stages, we also sourced wildings and saplings from the Innoprise-FACE Foundation Rainforest Rehabilitation Project (INFAPRO) at the Danum Valley Conservation Area (in Lahad Datu),' said Vita. INFAPRO, a collaboration between Innoprise Corporation and the FACE Foundation of the Netherlands, was initiated in 1992 to plant indigenous dipterocarps and wild fruit species that absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide. LUASONG Vita explained that the trees replanted in the rehabilitated forest areas of Luasong comprised 70 percent dipterocarp species, 24 percent non-dipterocarp species and five percent wild fruit trees. He said the mature seedlings germinated at the nursery in Luasong were planted using the line and gap-cluster method. Vita Juin spent early years in INIKEA collecting wildings. 'Collecting wildings is quite different from collecting seeds. We learned to carefully uproot young saplings – ideally in the morning and during the wet season when the soil is soft, to avoid damaging the roots. These had to be transported to the nursery by 11 am,' he said. He also recounted a rather scary encounter: 'While looking for wildings, we once came across hunters who subtly warned us not to 'disturb' their hunting ground.' Salimang said she oversaw the growth of seedlings in the nursery beds. 'At the same time, I was also involved in collecting wild tree seeds in the forest together with Vita Juin and other workers. 'During the fruiting season, we could collect millions of wildings, some incredibly small, like the Seraya (Shorea) species. These seeds would later be sown in the nursery. 'Collecting wildings can be difficult… we even had to compete with wild boars which were seeking tree seeds for food,' she said. Having worked at the Luasong nursery for nearly three decades, Salimang can now identify at least 70 tree species. 'Many university students come to visit the nursery for research purposes. They often ask questions that I sometimes find difficult to answer but I am very happy and proud to have played an important part in the INIKEA restoration project. 'I do get emotional when I see the tall trees that germinated from the seeds sown in our nursery,' she said. Vita said the INIKEA project's impact extends well beyond ecological restoration. 'The project not only achieved successful forest restoration but also provided employment for over 700 local people from Tawau, Sandakan, Keningau, Kuala Penyu and Luasong,' he said. He said many university students – including from abroad, mostly from Sweden – have conducted research at the INIKEA project site, with several completing their PhDs, masters and basic degrees based on their findings. Following its restoration success, the rehabilitated forest in Luasong is now part of the Sungai Tiagu Class 1 Forest Reserve. As the INIKEA project enters a new chapter, its story stands as a testament to what can be achieved through teamwork, perseverance and a commitment to safeguard and restore the environment. The hope now is that this 'living laboratory' will inspire future generations and serve as a global model for rainforest restoration.
