CAIRO: Sabah students in the Middle East are encouraged to serve as education ambassadors by bringing home the lessons and knowledge they have gained to contribute to the development of the Sabah.
Head of State Tun Musa Aman said Sabah’s true development should not focus solely on the construction of grand buildings, but must emphasise the development of human capital grounded in education, values and integrity.
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“Development without intellectual and moral enlightenment is fragile. Education must be the primary focus in nurturing a knowledgeable, civilised and principled generation,” he said when speaking at the Majlis Mahabbah Bersama Pelajar Sabah di Mesir here Sunday.
Musa, accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Faridah Tussin, said the Sabah Government has, since 1997, provided accommodation facilities for Sabah students in Egypt through the purchase of the Yayasan Sabah Building in Cairo during his tenure as Director of Yayasan Sabah.
Another hostel building was later purchased in Alexandria in 2010 when he served as Chief Minister, to cater to students’ accommodation needs.
“I have always been deeply concerned about the welfare of Sabah students abroad, as at that time they did not have dedicated hostel accommodation,” he said.
He also urged Sabah students to make full use of their experience studying in Egypt, to appreciate the history of Islamic civilisation and to practise the principle of moderation (wasatiyyah) in order to preserve Sabah’s unity as a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state.
“A true scholar is not merely one who memorises knowledge, but one who is able to translate it for the benefit of the people. Build networks of cooperation with international peers and seize the opportunities here to achieve success,” he stressed.
At the same event, Musa officiated the presentation of the Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah (Misbah) Student Cash Assistance.
Also held were the presentation of financial contributions from the Sabah Baitulmal Corporation to the Sabah Students Welfare Body in Egypt (BKPSM); the Sabah Students Association Activity Grant (Semesta) to the Sabah Students Council in Jordan (MMSJ) and BKPSM; as well as contributions from the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department and the Yayasan Sabah Group for the purchase of hostel equipment in Cairo.
The event, attended by 350 students, was also attended by Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Dr Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, who is also Sabah Religious Affairs Exco; Yayasan Sabah Director Dato’ Sri Ghulamhaidar Khan Bahadar; Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister Datuk Isnin Aliasnih; and Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) President Datuk Seri Yahya Hussin.
