KOTA KINABALU: Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak Affairs) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud called on students, particularly in Sabah, to venture into the fields of energy transition and food security at the tertiary level in line with future development needs.
He said both strategic fields have become key priorities due to global changes that demand a shift towards new energy sources, as well as the need to increase domestic food production to reduce reliance on imports.
“We hope that students in Sabah, in particular, will choose courses with high employability that are aligned with current global changes, where we are seeing a shift in focus.
“We do not want to depend on fuel sources, especially oil and gas, but instead need to transition to other energy sources. That is why we have the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR).
“The field of food security must also be given attention. We do not want students to assume that sectors such as agriculture and livestock offered by universities or polytechnics lack strong potential, as current global crises have shown their importance,” he said.
Mustapha said this to reporters after launching the Jom Masuk Universiti 2026 Carnival (Sabah Zone II) at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), here, Saturday.
He said the call for Sabah youths to venture into the energy transition and food security sectors is also due to the strong potential of both fields to be developed in Sabah as well as Sarawak.
Mustapha said Sabah has advantages in terms of vast land area and rich natural resources, including marine resources, which provide ample opportunities for the development of agriculture, livestock and related industries.
However, he said sufficient human capital talent and expertise among Sabah youths are crucial to drive these sectors as part of efforts to position the state, along with Sarawak, as leaders in the country’s energy transition and food security sectors.
Commenting on the carnival, Mustapha said the two-day programme, which runs until today (Sunday), aims to provide opportunities for students, particularly Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders, to obtain the latest information on courses offered at public universities, polytechnics, and community colleges.
The carnival also provides a platform for higher education institutions to showcase and provide information on the courses offered, he added.
