Kota Kinabalu: Future investors as well as GLCs and government agencies must set aside suitable jobs for youths from hardcore poor families as part of a new policy by the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah-led State Government to rid poverty in Sabah.
Datuk Seri Hajiji Haji Noor said: “We are not forgetting the hardcore poor by making sure their children are securely employed.
“I have instructed the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) secretariat led by Datuk Rosmadi to call top managements of companies in the State to notify them of the new requirement of hiring hardcore poor young in their development projects,” he said, in a special interview to mark his third year as Chief Minister. Otherwise, Sabah will not be able to eradicate hardcore poverty effectively.”
Hajiji said the SMJ Secretariat would inform CEOs, directors or general managers of Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) and government agencies of the new policy.
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“That is why we are seeking cooperation from the GLCs, government agencies and investors to allocate certain jobs for them, as decided by the State Cabinet,” he said.
These may be in administration and support services like clerical or unskilled work such as messengers or cleaners. Hajiji said he met with the Chairman of SBH Kibing – a China investor which Sabah had sealed a RM2 billion silica sand processing and solar manufacturing project – who agreed to comply so long as the children have at least Form 5 and Form 3 qualifications.
“He also notified us that they will train these children for skilled jobs. SBH Kibing will get data on number of children of the hardcore people across the State who are seeking jobs from the SMJ Secretariat,” he said. The company is scheduled to start operations in 2024.
Hence, if there were 1,000 jobs in the SBH Kibing project in Sabah, then 100 or 200 jobs would be reserved for youths from hardcore poor families.
Besides, he said the State Government also allocated about RM300 million to carry out new plans to eradicate poverty.
First, there is a plan to spend RM125 million for housing and the remainder for other plans which the SMJ Secretariat is currently devising.
“As the Chief Minister, this is one of the areas I want to focus on. If we focus on improving the State’s economy through mega projects but forget to improve the wellbeing of the hardcore poor, then I would feel guilty. We cannot do that,” he said.
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