KOTA MARUDU: The Kolej Kemahiran Islam Sabah (KKIS) at the Usia-AlBukhary Dakwah Training Centre in Kampung Marasinsim here is providing students from pondok, tahfiz and Islamic educational institutions with opportunities to pursue skills-based studies.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said the college’s establishment was timely and relevant to current needs, particularly in equipping students with technical skills alongside their religious education.
He said tahfiz students already had a strong foundation in religion, Quranic memorisation and moral values, but needed technical skills to broaden their education and career opportunities in an increasingly challenging job market.
“We want to combine Islamic knowledge with technical and vocational skills so that graduates of pondok and tahfiz institutions not only possess religious knowledge, but also the skills required by industries and the job market,” he said at the official opening of KKIS here on Tuesday, with his speech delivered by State Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif.
Hajiji also called for stronger collaboration between the United Sabah Islamic Association (Usia) and Institut Kemahiran Islam Darul Ridzuan (Ikdar), while urging KKIS to expand its skills programmes, strengthen industry collaboration and enhance mastery of AI and digital technology.
