Kota Kinabalu: Yayasan Sabah (YS), established in 1966, has played a significant role in the development of the people of Sabah, particularly in education, social welfare and the economy.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor said in terms of education, YS has been a pioneering force in educational development from preschool to higher education.
AdvertisementHe said this is evident in the increase in educational funding by 86.38 per cent to RM67.17 million in 2024, compared to RM36.04 million in 2021, enabling 3,234 students to benefit from YS scholarships and education loans.
“The Sabah State Education Fund, introduced in 2022, has benefited 7,957 students, with total spending amounting to RM7.07 million,” he said at the Yayasan Sabah Group Awards Night at Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) Friday.
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The Chief Minister said overall, YS has also contributed to improving the standard and quality of life for the people through various community programmes, with RM75.88 million allocated for social programmes in 2024, an increase of 86.57 per cent compared to RM40.67 million in 2021.
AdvertisementHe urged for continued efforts in loan repayment collection, as the total collection increased to RM6.6 million in 2024, compared to an average collection of RM5.4 million over the previous three years, ensuring that more Sabah youths have the opportunity to further their education.
Hajiji, who is also Chairman of the YS Board of Trustees, also called for Kolej Teknologi Yayasan Sabah (KTYS) and University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) to intensify their efforts in offering a variety of courses aligned with the workforce needs of the State.
Advertisement (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});“Since its establishment 10 years ago, UCSF has benefited over 3,000 Sabah youths, while KTYS has shown an increase in enrolment and commitment to quality education in Sabah.
The State Government will continue to support these two educational institutions for the future of our young generation,” he said.
Touching on commercial performance, Hajiji said Innoprise Corporation Sdn Bhd (ICSB) has recorded outstanding achievements, contributing to increased dividend payments to YS for three consecutive years, amounting to RM87.87 million in 2021 and maintaining a high level at RM146.52 million in 2024.
He said ICSB has declared dividend payments to YS and the State Government totalling RM150 million, making it one of the highest-dividend-declaring state government-linked companies (GLCs) for four consecutive years.
Hajiji noted that despite challenges, the ICSB Group successfully recorded a profit increase of RM102 million, up 22 per cent to RM562 million in 2024 compared to RM460 million in 2023.
“As a company, ICSB recorded a pre-tax profit of RM158 million for 2024, which is RM4.1 million higher than in 2023. I hope efforts will be intensified to ensure that subsidiaries remain competitive, increase profits and subsequently double dividend payments,” he said.
He also urged YS to be bold in undertaking a comprehensive transformation of its social and commercial programmes, prioritising creativity and innovation to achieve the aspirations and expectations of the people.
“Various programmes should continue to be implemented, including exploring new fields such as healthcare and renewable energy, particularly solar energy, for long-term benefits,” he said.
