Kota Kinabalu: Youth Development, Sports Advancement and Creative Economy Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan said his Ministry has been allocated RM88.01 million for operating expenditure and RM10.05 million for development in 2026.
He said the allocation would fund a wide spectrum of programmes spanning youth education and skills training, leadership and personal development, youth economic empowerment and financial literacy, social awareness and participation, as well as physical and mental wellbeing.
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Nizam said the Ministry would also continue investing in high-performance sports, para-sports, mass sports, e-sports, the sports industry, traditional and sports tourism activities, the upgrading of sports facilities, the gig economy, home-based products and the creative arts.
Citing data from the Malaysian Youth Development Research Institute (IYRES), he said Sabah’s youth population aged between 15 and 40 is projected at about two million out of a total population of 3.83 million, or close to 60 per cent of the State’s population.
“I will carry out the responsibility entrusted to me with full commitment,” he said, stressing that youth development remains central to Sabah’s long-term social and economic progress.
In line with the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) manifesto for the 2025 State Election, Nizam said his Ministry would uphold inclusivity to ensure every Sabahan and every segment of society has fair access to opportunities for social mobility, with no group left behind or marginalised.
He said programme-matching initiatives would be implemented in 2026 to ensure the manifesto’s commitments are translated into practical outcomes on the ground.
On cultivating proactive and effective youth, Nizam said the Ministry wants young people to create opportunities for themselves by being willing to take risks, innovate, think creatively, solve problems, communicate effectively and work collaboratively.
Touching on sports development, Nizam said Sabah aims to strengthen its position as a sports state by nurturing talent in both high-performance sports and para-sports, where the state has shown strong potential.
On the creative economy, Nizam said the Ministry will focus on improving industry competitiveness and marketability through creative skills upskilling programmes covering product quality, technology and innovation, marketing, financial management and human capital development.
