Mustapha's efforts paid off: CM
Published on: Sunday, February 11, 2018
Sandakan: Establishment of the Yayasan Sabah (YS) Group since May 1966 by late founder Tun Datu Mustapha Datu Harun continues to propel Sabah youths to succeed in education.Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa said this includes other fields such as acquiring vocational skills and entrepreneurship in efforts to empower them."Setting up a handicraft centre in Keningau has provided living skills to the local communities as well as elevating their present socio-economic living standard.
ADVERTISEMENT
"In education, scholarship and financial assistance help Sabah youths to pursue their studies not only in Sabah but also overseas which are among the efforts of YS to help them succeed and contribute to Sabah and the country," he said.Musa who is also the YS Group Board of Directors Chairman said this in his speech at the launching of YS Roadshow with people at a multipurpose hall in Libaran, here, Saturday.Also present were State Secretary Tan Sri Sukarti Wakiman, Sabah Federal Secretary Datuk Norizan Mohd Thani, Local Government and Housing Assistant Minister Datuk Zakaria Edris and other senior officials.Through the roadshow and exhibitions, Musa said entrepreneurs who display their products and be role model to others can show to the people here how YS and local agencies have helped them to succeed in their business ventures.
ADVERTISEMENT
Meanwhile, Group Director Datuk Sapawi Ahmad said the efforts of Mustapha to provide education opportunities to young Sabahans has become a reality via Musa's leadership.Overall, he said the YS Group spent RM652.7 million that benefitted 101,730 students by providing scholarships and many have been successful.
ADVERTISEMENT
"With Musa's leadership, visionary support and experience and one-step ahead thinking, YS Group has also expanded by directly providing facilities to tertiary education via the establishment of Kolej Teknikal Yayasan Sabah (KYTS) and University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF).He said Technical Vocational and Education Training (TVET) in KYTS is also a platform to unearth and polish skills and talents of Sabah youths in technical field.Sapawi said KYTS has produced 5,714 graduates. "USCF establishment is also another benchmark for YS Group which proved it has achieved excellence in the education field."The facilities provided in the university is also at par with prominent universities in the country," he said.In addition, he said YS Group has never run away from its vision of being dynamic, people-oriented, committed and concerned but continue to consolidate its efforts and dedication to implement various social programmes via certain division and six zone of YS offices in Sabah.Overall, all the programmes of YS Group in North East Coast Zone has spent over RM7.5 million that benefitted 138,677 local communities from 2005 until last year.Sapawi said the YS Group has also diversified its revenue sources and conservation efforts under Musa's advice which resulted in excellent results from year to year.Apart from depending on timber resources, YS now has ventured into other trading fields so as to bring positive changes and sustainable development to the people and Sabah.Last year, 13 subsidiary and affiliated companies presented dividends totalling RM233.5 million to the shareholders which is YS Group through Innoprise Corporation Sdn. Bhd. (ICSB) for 2016 and 2017."Although YS Group is active doing well in various sectors, it is also committed in conservation efforts whereby YS is also one of the leaders in sustainable forest management in Sabah."In forest concession with acreage of over one million hectares, YS Group has allocated five conservation areas namely Maliau Valley, Danum Valley, Imbak Canyon, Sungai Taliwas and coastal of Silam beach, as the legacy to be inherited by the future generations."Through this effort, indirectly, the YS Group contributed to the acreage of Total Protected Areas (TPAs) in Sabah which is also the positive outcome of Musa's leadership who is very committed in forest and natural environment conservation efforts," he said.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
