Kota Kinabalu: The Federal Government is urged to focus on empowering young entrepreneurs, creating high-income job opportunities, and developing sports and the creative economy sector in Sabah under Budget 2027.
State Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said the measures could support inclusive and sustainable socioeconomic development among Sabah’s youth.
“The focus should be on ensuring young people not only have access to employment opportunities but are also able to create better and more stable sources of income amid the current cost-of-living challenges,” he said.
He said young entrepreneurs needed access to financing and training, as well as opportunities to leverage available digital platforms, to ensure the sustainability of their businesses.
“Sabah youths should have the choice of building a career or creating new job opportunities through their own businesses,” he said.
Nizam, who was interviewed at the Sabah FM studio at the Integrated Ministry of Communications Complex on Monday, said the needs of youths in rural areas should also be given attention to ensure opportunities were not concentrated only in urban areas.
He said Budget 2027 should also focus on grassroots sports development and the provision of sports infrastructure in Sabah.
“Sabah needs more good, safe and accessible sports facilities for the community, alongside talent identification programmes, coach development and clear career pathways to bring young athletes from school level to higher levels,” he said.
Nizam said Sabah also had local talents and works with potential to be taken to a higher level, with the creative economy requiring greater support through grants, training, creative spaces, marketing and access to wider platforms.
“This is important to ensure local artists are not only able to produce quality works but also turn the creative economy, including local arts, culture and heritage, into sustainable sources of income and careers,” he said.
He said the goal in both sports and the creative economy was to create more opportunities for Sabah youths to develop and create opportunities, while taking the State’s name to a higher level.
