Keningau: The Keningau Handicraft Centre which will be officiate by Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak later this year, will open many opportunities to youths here in terms of job and income, said Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman, Wednesday.He said with the construction of the Handicraft Centre in Keningau, hopefully more job opportunities as well as income will be available to the people here, especially for youths in the district, as well as the surrounding areas.
However, he said the Handicraft Centre is not solely built for the people of Keningau but for the people all over Sabah, where they are able to learn, train and work in the centre while at the same time promote and sell their products here.
"This is what we have planned for since the beginning.
With the construction of the centre, we will be able to produce many more local masters and specialist in the traditional crafts industry," he said.
Musa said apart from the building being built by the Sabah Foundation costing about RM30 million, there is also an allocation worth RM20 million from the Federal Government for the purpose of training.
"The training will be focused on the youths and not only they are being done domestically, but there are also courses that we organise abroad like to Indonesia and Thailand, so that they can deepen their knowledge and skills in this industry," he said.
He said the government will continue its effort and planning in order to ensure that there will be more programmes being brought forward to the interior so that the youths are able to get jobs and income.
He was speaking to reporters after making an inspection to the completed building of the Keningau Handicraft Centre and having breakfast there on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Musa said his two-day visit to Keningau has shown him that the people here are happier under the Barisan Nasional (BN) government.
"We are pleased to see the villagers, Chinese people, other ethnic groups as well as community leaders here are happy with the environment in Sabah, especially in Keningau.
"Apart from being able to receive many help from the Federal and State governments, the people also can see the infrastructure development that have been created across the Keningau area," he said.
Also present were Deputy Chief Minister, Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan, Assistant Minister of Rural Development, Datuk Sairin Karno, Bingkor Assemblyman, Datuk Justin Guka, Pensiangan Umno Chief, Datuk Ghani Yassin, PBS Liawan Chief, Datuk Jake Nointin and others.
