KOTA KINABALU: Sabah needs more highly skilled local workers to ensure that its people become the main drivers of economic growth and development, State Minister of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk James Ratib said.
He said human capital development must move in tandem with physical development, as well as the Government’s efforts to attract investors and strengthen new economic sectors in Sabah.
He emphasised that Sabah must not rely solely on foreign workers, but should expand education and skills training opportunities to produce more qualified local talent capable of meeting industry needs.
“We want Sabah’s children to become part of the driving force of the State’s economy, not merely spectators to the development taking place in their own State,” he said at the Petronas Powering Knowledge Sabah 2026 Education Sponsorship Awards presentation ceremony at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC), here, on Friday.
James said the State Government viewed education as one of the most important investments for Sabah’s future, as infrastructure development, industrial areas and investments must be supported by people with the knowledge, skills and capabilities to drive such development.
He also stressed that Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) was among the State Government’s key focuses in strengthening human capital development and providing a workforce suited to industry requirements.
In a related development, he welcomed Petronas’ support through the Kimanis Petroleum Training Centre (KTC), which will see 22 new trainees undertaking the Malaysian Skills Diploma programme in Industrial Instrumentation and Control Systems.
He said the field had strategic value in supporting the needs of modern industries, particularly the oil and gas sector, as well as other growing fields.
“Sabah is moving towards a more diversified economy. We need skilled workers not only for the oil and gas sector, but also in manufacturing, construction, energy, tourism, modern agriculture, technology and the digital economy,” he said.
James said cooperation between the Government, educational institutions and industry must continue to be strengthened to ensure the training provided was truly aligned with labour market needs.
“The Government provides the ecosystem, educational and training institutions provide the talent, while industry opens up opportunities for them to grow. When these three parties move together, only then can we produce a Sabah workforce that truly meets industry needs,” he said.
Meanwhile, James expressed his appreciation for Petronas’ contribution through the Petronas Small Scholarship, which provides education opportunities to secondary school students in Sabah.
For the 2026/2027 session, 25 Sabah children were selected to receive the Petronas Minor Scholarship, bringing the total number of recipients since the programme was introduced in 2023 to 140.
More significantly, nine recipients of the scholarship were subsequently selected to receive full sponsorship under the Powering Knowledge Sabah 2026 Education Sponsorship Programme.
He highlighted that this continuity demonstrated that the programme not only provided educational assistance for a specific period, but was also capable of establishing a talent development pathway from the school level through to higher education.
“We do not merely want to produce graduates. We want to produce Sabah talent with knowledge, skills, values and the ability to lead,” he said.
He said the State Government greatly appreciated Petronas’ commitment as a strategic partner in Sabah’s development, not only in the energy sector, but also through education, skills training and community development initiatives.
James also urged the sponsorship recipients to make the most of the opportunities given to them and return to contribute to Sabah’s development after completing their studies.
“If today we send Sabah’s children out to pursue knowledge, we want them to one day return and bring that knowledge home to build Sabah,” he said.
He said investment in education and skills must continue to be prioritised, as the true strength of a State was measured not only by physical development, but also by the quality of its people who drive that development.
“A developed Sabah needs an educated population, a competitive Sabah needs a skilled workforce, and a Sabah with a strong future needs a young generation that is courageous, competent and ready to lead,” he said.
