By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The youths of this state play a crucial role in ensuring that Sabah continues to progress and achieves excellence on par with other states in Malaysia, said Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He stated that Sabah is now on the brink of a major transformation, and the State Government is working tirelessly to ensure the state attains excellence in various sectors, including the economy, social development, education, and infrastructure.
“To achieve the goals of Sabah Maju Jaya, we need the energy, ideas, and spirit of the younger generation. I hope that young people will continue to fully support the government’s agenda in making Sabah a developed, prosperous, and competitive state.
“I am confident that the youth of this state, as the future leaders of Sabah, are not only intelligent but also possess character and integrity,” he said at the launch of the Perintis Muda in the Heart of the Chief Minister Programme, held in conjunction with the 2025 State-Level Anti-Drugs Day Commemoration at the Universiti Teknologi MARA, Sabah Branch here.
Hajiji’s speech was read by Community Development and People’s Well-being Minister Datuk James Ratib.
He added that under the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Development Plan 1.0, the State Government prioritises human capital development as a vital asset in building the future of the state and the nation, ensuring that individuals are competent, innovative, resilient, and have integrity.
Hajiji said the Sabah State Government remains committed to providing various forms of educational aid to Sabahans, recognising the importance of education in shaping the future of youths.
He said this year, the State Government has allocated RM75.5 million to implement 13 comprehensive educational assistance initiatives, including the higher education enrolment cash aid (Budi), special examination cash aid (Bakti),
Local tertiary education student contribution (Sentosa), flight ticket subsidy (GRS-SUBFLY), and the computer assistance programme (Baik).
“Meanwhile, funding for the Sabah State Government scholarship (BKNS) has been increased from RM51 million to RM128 million this year, providing more students with the opportunity to pursue higher education.
“All these initiatives aim to ensure that no Sabahan child is left behind in pursuing their ambitions due to financial constraints. We want to produce a generation of knowledgeable, skilled, and competitive youths at the state, national, and international levels.
“We want to ensure every young person in this state is given equal opportunity to maximise their potential. I would like to emphasise that the state government is always committed to fully supporting all programmes that empower young people,” he said.
Hajiji stated that through the Perintis Muda in the Heart of the Chief Minister Programme, youths are trained not only to become future leaders but also to be catalysts for social and economic transformation in their respective communities.
He believes that through programmes like this, an ecosystem of youth excellence can be developed—one that excels not only academically and professionally but also in social leadership maturity.
He added that the fight against drug abuse is closely linked with the holistic youth development agenda.
Therefore, he said, the programme, driven by the Sabah Youth Council (MBS), is a strategic initiative to equip young leaders with leadership skills, project management, community problem-solving abilities, and to foster patriotism and national spirit.
“This is because youths are the backbone of the state’s development, not only in terms of the economy but also in building a civil society, strengthening social integration, and developing grassroots communities,” he stressed.
