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Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s growing investments will only succeed with skilled local talent behind them, said Deputy Chief Minister II Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun.
“No development plan can succeed without the people driving it,” he said when officiating the closing ceremony of ConocoPhillips STEM Forward 2026 at the Sabah State Library in Tanjung Aru, Monday.
“Infrastructure can be built, investments can be attracted and industries can be developed, but ultimately it is the talent that drives lasting progress,” said Masidi, who is also State Finance Minister.
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programme aimed at secondary students was organised by ConocoPhillips with the State Education, Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) and the Sabah State Library.
Masidi said Sabah is seeing growing investment in energy, manufacturing, technology, logistics, tourism and the digital economy, all of which need people with specialised skills.
“We want to see more Sabahans not only participating in these opportunities, but leading them,” he said.
He said one way to build that talent was for young Sabahans to be more curious.
“Unless and until we ask questions, we would not get the answer,” he told the young participants.
“We are very shy people, and that is what makes Sabah unique, but we do not like to ask questions. This is an attitude we must change, especially in science, engineering, technology and mathematics. It is not an offence to ask questions,” he said.
As Chairman of State-owned oil and gas company SMJ Energy, Masidi said the industry offered some of the best prospects for young Sabahans.
“I think there is no industry in Sabah that promises higher salaries than oil and gas,” he said.
He said practically all of SMJ Energy’s staff are Sabahans who returned home after gaining experience with other companies.
He also shared that he came from a very poor family and once walked three days and three nights to reach the nearest town to catch a bus to his boarding school.
“Do not be ashamed to admit that we are poor, but we should be ashamed if we do not try to lift ourselves out of poverty. Poverty and hardship should not be seen as a wall that stops us from succeeding,” he said.
He also thanked teachers for their part in the programme.
“Government alone cannot do it. Schools alone cannot do it. Industry alone cannot do it. But together, through partnerships such as those we celebrate today, we can create greater opportunities for our young people and build a stronger future for Sabah,” he said.
The ceremony also saw Masidi witnessing ConocoPhillips handover of STEM learning modules to the State Education Department for use in schools across the State.
The modules carry Sabah specific content and real-world examples.
ConocoPhillips Malaysia President Connor Dunn said STEM Forward was part of the company’s wider STEM ecosystem, which also includes STEM Xplore and STEM Accelerator.
He said the programmes had reached more than 10,000 students across Sabah since 2023.
“If we inspire even just a few of the students here today to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, it bodes really well for the future,” he said, adding that it creates new opportunities.
He said handing over the STEM modules to the State Education Department did not mean the end of the company’s involvement.
“Our involvement really is growing. We will continue running programmes through next year and beyond,” he said.
He said company employees also volunteer as mentors to show students that STEM careers are within reach.
On their investment in Sabah where oil and gas is concerned, he said their investment included the Kebabangan and Malikai assets.
“Our success is closely linked to the success of the communities where we live and work. As we invest in Sabah for the long term, we are committed to supporting the State’s growth through energy development and investment in local talent, so Sabahans are ready for the opportunities that growth creates,” he said.
He said the company recently announced the expansion of Phase 2 of the Kebabangan field at a cost of more than RM1.4 billion, with activity picking up next year.
Asked about Sabah’s push to gain control over its own oil and gas, Dunn said the company’s role was to deliver energy safely and responsibly as a petroleum contractor, adding that the majority of its employees in Sabah were Sabahans.
Present was Sabah State Education Director, Abidin Marjan, among others.
