LAHAD DATU: Twenty-five trainees completed a one-day training course here Thursday that could have a far-reaching impact on Sabah and her neighbours as well as the consolidation of a sector long overlooked.
The course on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) was the first under the auspices of the BIMP-EAGA Maritime Academy, a State-sponsored project involving POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, University College Sabah Foundation and the Academy.
The Academy is being seen as a game-changing essential infrastructure in producing the multitude of trained personnel in maritime and logistics related fields required in the realisation of Sabah’s vision as the maritime hub of the region.
Sabah declared its intention in the 90s to exploit its strategic position in BIMP-EAGA and be a hub to develop the region’s maritime potentials to another level.
POIC Lahad Datu is attempting to leverage its industrial park, comprehensive port, deep harbour and central location in BIMP-EAGA to position itself as the logistics hub of the region.
State-owned POIC Sabah, the developer of the POIC Lahad Datu industrial park, will be home to the Maritime Academy.
Words like “hub” and “catalyst” are appearing more frequently in Sabah’s recent development narratives, the latest being made earlier this week by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor who saw POIC Lahad Datu as the catalyst to Sabah’s east coast becoming a new economic growth centre under the Sabah Maju Jaya development blueprint.
As the world increasingly looks to the vast natural resources in the EAGA territories, POIC Lahad Datu is being viewed as a gateway to this Asean corner of 90 million people, catalyse territorial cooperation and economic growth.
Speaking at the beginning of the training course, Sabah’s Special Envoy Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia said BIMP-EAGA growth can be expedited when the territorial governments worked together.
His speech was delivered by his Special Officer Dato’ Dr Ismail Idris, who is also Head of Investment and Project Division on BIMP EAGA under the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department.
In the 27 years since BIMP-EAGA was formed, Pandikar is the first high-level State appointee tasked specifically with BIMP-EAGA affairs.
Pandikar called for wider attention on EAGA, adding that the Academy will not only have an impact in ensuring quality workforce in all marine-related sectors but also in neighbourly relations between the EAGA territories.
In his welcoming address earlier, POIC Sabah Chairman Datuk Seri Panglima Yong Teck Lee hailed the participation of the BIMP-EAGA Business Council Sabah Chapter and the University College Sabah Foundation in ensuring that no stakeholders are left out.
He said the Academy has plans to work with institutions within and outside Malaysia in order to produce globally recognised personnel in all fields of shipping, logistics and maritime industry. A preliminary 14-course module is being adopted covering subjects from policy formulation to oceanography.
UCSF Chairman Datuk Dr Yaakob Johari described the course as “long overdue” given that he, along with Yong and Pandikar, have over the years been working together at one time or another on ideas and issues associated with the dynamics of BIMP-EAGA.
He welcomed the opportunity to “making things happen” and pledged UCSF’s “solid support” for the endeavour.
UCSF Vice Chancellor Dr Rafiq Idris said its participation in the Academy is an avenue to add to its existing faculties and offering wider industry-oriented training opportunities in Sabah.
In addition to that, UCSF looks forward to strategic partnerships with the marine and logistics-related industries, he added.
Also present at the event were Datuk Fredian Gan, the CEO of POIC Sabah Sdn Bhd, POIC Board of Directors Datuk Dr Wilson Yong, a Director of BIMP-EAGA Maritime Academy and Carl Mosoom, the Chairman of BIMP EAGA Business Council (BEBC) Sabah.
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