Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah United Chinese chambers of Commerce (SUCCC) President Datuk Michael Lui welcomed the substantial allocations for education and human resources in the Sabah Budget 2026, as evidence of the government’s focus on strengthening human capital through academic and education.
Lui, who is also the President of Kota Kinabalu Chinese Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KKCCCI) said that the business community is willing to become a close partner of the government to bridge skills gaps and ensure training initiatives are relevant and effective.
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“We look forward to deeper dialogue and cooperation with relevant state government departments, such as the Ministry of Education, The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Ministry of Human Resources, to jointly ensure that these valuable allocations are truly reaches the most affected groups and to ensure Sabahans are not left behind in the digital transformation,” he said.
He made these remarks regarding the recently released 2026 Sabah State Budget, which prioritizes development and the well-being of the people.
Regarding training programs such as Language and ICT courses, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) as well as digital technology, Lui believes that these areas are highly aligned with the current and future talent needs of the business community, playing a crucial role in youth employment, business upgrading, and attracting foreign investment.
He hoped the state government would strengthen cooperation with chambers of commerce, industries and business communities when implementing relevant plans to ensure that training content aligns with market demands and avoids a mismatch between talent and job positions.
Furthermore, he also praised the government’s commitment to increase the allocations to non-Islamic religious bodies, Mission schools, Chinese primary schools and independent Chinese secondary schools across Sabah to RM90 million in 2026, an increase of RM20 million from RM70 million in 2025.
“This increase not only reflects the state government’s respect and emphasis on multi-religious, educational, and cultural development, but also demonstrates Sabah’s consistent spirit of inclusiveness, openness, and multicultural prosperity.”
Lui also hoped that the allocation of funds would be implemented in a fair, transparent, and effective manner to ensure that it truly benefits those in need.
At the same time, he emphasized that the 2026 budget has a clear direction in education, human resources, and social development.
The SUCCC and KKCCCI will continue to act as a bridge between the government and the business community to jointly promote the steady economic development and social prosperity of Sabah.
