Kota Kinabalu – In a concerted effort to nurture and strengthen Sabah’s human capital and equip its youth with critical skills to meet the demands of the labor market, the Sabah Unity Government, led by Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS), has committed substantial funding and rolled out targeted policies aimed at enhancing the state’s overall competitiveness.
The Sabah State Government has announced an allocation of RM470 million specifically for the development of human capital within the state.
To further boost the advancement of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and to help youths acquire vital skills, the state has also established the Sabah TVET Council. This marks a significant step forward in the government’s efforts to raise the quality and relevance of technical and vocational education.
According to Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan, Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister, the RM470 million allocation will benefit not only students studying within Sabah but also Sabahan students pursuing their education elsewhere.
“This initiative aligns with Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor’s Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) development vision,” he said.
He added that the Sabah government recognizes that human capital is the driving force behind progress and prosperity. As such, human resource development has been designated as a core value and key focus in the SMJ development blueprint.
In fact, the state has already introduced various youth-focused initiatives, particularly targeting students, to provide them with a conducive platform and environment for learning.
Making Higher Education Possible
Mohamad Azzu, a law student from Kampung Merotai in Tawau, expressed his gratitude, saying the state’s financial support has made his dream of studying law a reality.
“I never thought I’d get the chance to pursue higher education. I assumed I’d finish secondary school and end up working as a shop assistant in town or borrow money to buy a motorcycle and become a food delivery rider,” he said.
He also hopes his younger sister, Khadijah, who is still in secondary school, will study hard so she too can pursue her studies in Peninsular Malaysia.
Sabah TVET Council Established
Beyond financial allocation, the Sabah Unity Government, under GRS, has also established the Sabah TVET Council to ensure that young people are equipped with key skills aligned with current labor market needs. The council, chaired by ministers and assistant ministers, will oversee the implementation of funding and policies to achieve specific development goals effectively.
The council will coordinate over 160 technical and vocational institutions across the state, enhancing inter-agency collaboration and resource sharing to ensure that training programs are closely aligned with industry demands.
It will also act as a bridge between the government, industry players, and educational institutions—facilitating policy alignment, funding applications, and improving the technical certification system. These efforts aim to significantly boost youth employability and technical competitiveness.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor emphasized that “TVET is no longer a secondary option—it is a vital pathway for adapting to industrial transformation, technological innovation, and the evolving needs of the labor market.”
“Our TVET programs have been revamped to align with market and industry requirements, with the goal of equipping our youth with practical skills and access to stable employment opportunities,” he said.
TVET is expected to serve as a critical pillar in realizing the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 plan, as well as in supporting various national development agendas, including the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the New Industrial Master Plan 2030, and the National Energy Transition Roadmap.
The Sabah Government also plans to help young people acquire knowledge in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and emerging technologies, while nurturing their creativity and adaptability in response to the rapidly evolving job landscape.
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Mohd Arifin Arif and his deputy Datuk Harun Durabi have been appointed as the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Sabah TVET Council, respectively.
VOICE OF ASIA Editorial Note
At VOICE OF ASIA, we believe in amplifying the real voices of the people – especially those too often overlooked in national discourse. This article, originally published by Sin Chew, highlights a perspective from Sabah that resonates with our editorial mission: to go beyond headlines and politics, and shine a light on what truly matters to everyday Malaysians.
This article was originally published by Sin Chew and has been translated and republished in full on VOICE OF ASIA with due credit. The original version can be found here.
