Rise in number of Sabahans employed
Published on: Monday, November 27, 2023
Hajiji chairing the Sedia meeting at Menara Kinabalu.
SABAH is experiencing positive growth with the unemployment rate going down to 7.5 per cent last year, compared to 8.2pc in 2021.
Statistics Department data showed 1,875,800 people in Sabah had jobs in 2022 compared to 1,856,500 in 2021, said Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor when chairing the Sabah Economic Development and Investment Authority (Sedia) board meeting at Menara Kinabalu, Kota Kinabalu, on Nov 23.
ADVERTISEMENT
He said efforts by the Government after the Covid-19 pandemic have begun to show encouraging results.
Hajiji, who is Sedia Chairman, urged the agency to focus on improving its management and administration so that the 12th Malaysia Plan (12MP), which has two more years to go, could be implemented with integrity and transparency.
“This is in line with efforts to eradicate poverty, enhance the efficiency of transportation and logistics infrastructure, develop future talents and ensure the marketability of graduates of higher learning institutions and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET),” he said.
Sedia’s initiatives such as the Skills and Talents Enhancement Programme have been carried out under the Human Capital Transformation effort to enhance individual skills through upskilling and re-skilling programmes, improving access to education and training through outreach programmes and creating better cooperation between the industry and learning institutions, he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
As a result, Sedia has created job opportunities for 1,600 participants and 300 entrepreneurs. Sabah’s workforce participation rate increased to 70.9pc in 2022 compared to 70.4 per cent in the previous year.
“Sedia is still relevant as the core mover of the regional economic development. I want Sedia to make a big shift in the planning and implementation of its projects to boost Sabah’s development.
ADVERTISEMENT
“By 2024, Sedia should focus on investments in logistics, agriculture and tourism and point its sight on new economic activities encompassing renewable energy, technology usage in agriculture, livestock and fisheries, among others,” he said.
He said that as the agency entrusted to implement the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC 2.0) action plan, Sedia must implement strategic initiatives and projects capable of attracting potential investments, creating more jobs, and enhancing the livelihood of Sabahans.
“It is challenging to manage and administrate an agency, particularly in the service delivery aspect, but Sedia has proven that it operates transparently and with integrity. Sedia has been given the clean bill certificate for 13 consecutive years by the Auditor-General. Congratulations,” he said.
Hajiji expressed appreciation to the Federal Economy Ministry for entrusting Sedia with the implementation of several initiatives and projects in Sabah, among them the solar system installation project for government buildings, the Sapangar Bay Container Port expansion project and the upgrading of the access road to the proposed site of the Serudong Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) in Kalabakan.
He also congratulated Sedia for being chosen as the coordinator and planner of the Malaysia Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit for the Sabah Region next year.
This would enhance the visibility of the Economy Ministry as the focal point for the SDG and the national environmental, social and governance (ESG) framework.
Also present were State Secretary Datuk Seri Sr. Safar Untong, Sedia Chief Executive Datuk Seri Haji Hashim Paijan and State Attorney-General Datuk Nor Asiah Mohd Yusof.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
