Kota Kinabalu: The State Government is on the right track in its initiative and proactive measure to empower human capital through education and training, said Kawang Assemblyman Dato’ Sri Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar.
This aligns with the core focus of the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Agenda.
“Investing in human capital development — especially through education and skills training — is a strategic move to produce a workforce that is high-quality, competent and competitive.
window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []};googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.defineSlot('/22826383987/dailyexpress_inline', [1, 1], 'gpt-passback').addService(googletag.pubads());googletag.enableServices();googletag.display('gpt-passback');});“In this context, the Sabah Foundation Group (Yayasan Sabah Group) has long played a crucial role and will continue to do so as the leading government agency in this field,” he said.
Ghulam, who is also Yayasan Sabah Director, said the Yayasan Sabah Group established the Sabah State Education Fund (TPNS) to provide education funding for Sabah youths.
“In 2023, approximately 8,000 Sabah students studying both locally and abroad received aid under the TPNS, with a total allocation of RM8 million.
“This year, the TPNS aims to support over 10,000 recipients from B40 households, including those pursuing higher education at the undergraduate and Ph.D. levels,” he said.
Apart from TPNS, Yayasan Sabah also drives human capital development through two key educational institutions: the University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) and the Sabah Foundation College of Technology (KTYS) — serving as springboards for Sabah’s youth to gain knowledge and become outstanding contributors to society.
He said UCSF offers a wide range of academic and skill-based programs tailored to Sabah and Malaysia’s socio-economic and cultural development.
Currently, 14 programmes are offered under four faculties - Faculty of Management & Entrepreneurship, Faculty of Arts & Creative Multimedia, Faculty of Natural Sciences & Sustainability and Faculty of Development & Multicultural Studies.
These are supported by several centres of excellence, including the Centre for Development Studies (CDS), Institute of Borneo Studies (IBS), Centre for Language and Generic Development (CLGD), a Teaching and Learning Factory and the Nature-Inspired Art Gallery (NIAG).
“Since its establishment 10 years ago, UCSF has benefited more than 3,000 Sabah students, with the number of active students reaching over 1,000 in 2024 the highest enrolment to date.
“UCSF has also achieved ‘Competitive’ status under the Malaysian Higher Education Institutions Integrated Rating System (Setara),” he said.
He said KTYS was established to provide access to quality academic and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
KTYS engages in smart partnerships with industry experts, educational institutions and training providers.
“It also works closely with the Government to equip students with job-relevant skills that match current labour market demands,” he said. The “KTYS Pilihanku” campaign recorded 1,366 new student enrolments in 2024 — surpassing its target of 1,345 reflecting growing interest in and commitment to quality education in Sabah.
Also in 2024, KTYS achieved a 98pc graduate employability rate, due to strategic partnerships, including with DRB-HICOM University of Automotive Malaysia, which offers credit transfers and job guarantees for KTYS graduates who pursue further studies there.
Beyond formal education, Yayasan Sabah continues to pioneer a wide range of human capital initiatives. Including through the Sabah Handicraft Centre (PKS) in Keningau — a dual-purpose facility that focuses on skills training. The centre has become a landmark in the development of the handicraft industry in the State.
“This initiative reflects Yayasan Sabah’s continued commitment to uplifting rural communities across Sabah.
“It helps generate income for them as part of efforts to reduce poverty in the state, while also preserving the rich cultural heritage of Sabah’s diverse ethnic communities through traditional handicrafts,” he said.
“Given the government’s bold vision, we are confident that under the leadership of the Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor, Sabah has the potential to become a highly developed and high-income state in the near future,” he said.
