By WU VUIDE
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Handicraft Centre (PKS) carried out 1,066 programmes involving an allocation of RM47.2 million and benefiting 22,038 people between 2011 and 2026.
Sabah has a rich cultural heritage, including weaving, batik, bamboo and rattan crafts, and beadwork, which the younger generation must continue to preserve and develop in keeping with changing times, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor.
He said RM1.5 million had been allocated this year for 29 programmes involving 200 participants from targeted groups.
He said this at the appreciation and closing ceremony of the Sabah Special Programme for Natives (PKAN) 2026 at the Sabah International Convention Centre (SICC) here yesterday.
Hajiji’s speech was read by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Arif.
Hajiji, who is also chairman of the Yayasan Sabah Board of Trustees, said Sabahans must be equipped with the knowledge and skills to adapt, innovate and seize opportunities.
He said PKS’s batik and digital printing creations were featured in the KPDN Presents: Fashion Forward Batik Malaysia fashion show during Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2026, showing that Sabah’s creativity and craftsmanship could gain wider recognition.
He said Yayasan Sabah had strengthened the handicraft industry through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Yayasan Sabah, through PKS, and the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB).
This was followed by the presentation of Letters of Intention (LOI) to Yayasan Sabah from Kota Kinabalu Polytechnic, the All-Party Parliamentary Group Malaysia on Sustainable Development Goals (APPGM-SDG) and Sugee Group Sdn Bhd.
Hajiji welcomed the involvement of Yayasan Sabah College of Technology (KTYS) and University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) in PKAN to expand human capital development in areas such as employability, technology and entrepreneurship, in line with current industry needs.
“Between 2016 and 2026, KTYS implemented 93 programmes involving an allocation of RM15.01 million and 1,936 participants,” he said.
Through PKAN, KTYS implemented the Gerak Cemerlang SPM Programme (GeCerSPM) to improve students’ performance in Mathematics and Science.
Hajiji said the programme initially involved three schools and 200 students. It improved the passing rate from 35 per cent to 98 per cent in the 2025 SPM examination.
Following its success, participation was expanded to 300 students from six schools this year.
In addition, the Gerak Ekonomi Makanan Inovasi Laut (GEMILAU) Programme helped vulnerable communities improve their income through seafood processing skills. Of the 89 participants, 43 successfully increased their income, he said.
Meanwhile, UCSF, through PKAN Sabah 2026, implemented the Exploration and Empowerment of Technology, Arts and Entrepreneurship (ExPERTISE) programme, with an allocation of RM750,000 for 11 programmes involving 314 youths and members of Sabah’s native communities.
Hajiji said the Patient Care Assistant (PCA) Certificate Programme was among the initiatives carried out this year in collaboration with Institut Jantung Negara University College (IJNUC).
Thirteen students secured three-month practical training placements at the National Heart Institute (IJN) and private clinics in Sabah.
He said the BRIDGE (Building Resources, Inclusivity, Development and Growth in Communities) programme had also carried out nine programmes covering arts and crafts, tourism and hospitality, artificial intelligence (AI), science and technology, and agriculture.
The outreach programme involved 292 participants from Sipitang, Semporna, Pulau Banggi, Keningau, Ranau, Kota Belud, Kota Marudu and Kota Kinabatangan.
UCSF implemented 85 programmes involving an allocation of RM11.7 million and benefiting 1,842 participants between 2015 and 2025.
Also present was Yayasan Sabah director Datuk Ghulam Haidar Khan Bahadar.
Arifin (third, left), and Ghulam (second, left), being briefed on a handicraft product.
