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Kota Kinabalu: Sabah’s challenges were discussed at the Sabah Young Business and Industry Leaders (Sybil) workshop and networking event here recently.

Founder of Ooze, Precilla Fong, 36, said the State has many SMEs but most are unequipped with even the basic skills.

She believes financial literacy should be taught to children which is her organisation’s mission.

“Our main activities are statewide pitching competitions where ideas must be towards solving social issues faced in Sabah.

“Participants would then receive constructive feedback from industry experts building their character,” she said.

Sabah Care Group General Manager Susan Yh Pan, 44, said Sabah’s medical tourism scene is inaccessible.

They are the only private IVF provider in Sabah.

“Sabah has very good medical standards with affordable prices compared to Brunei or Singapore. But we lack international flights. It doesn’t make sense when the airfare is costlier and then there’s the transit.

“West Malaysia’s medical tourism is doing very well. It’s up to 80 per cent in Penang. The Sabah Tourism Board knows and is working on this,” she said.

A home material supplier, Missreno founder Kevin Lee, 38, said the weakening ringgit has the industry spending more on logistics.

“A full container arrives and returns empty or half full. The logistic company will compensate.

“Sabah needs to increase its manufacturing capacity with value added services. We can enhance by imparting technological collaboration with advanced countries.

“So far, the Government has been helpful. Sabah Credit has been supportive of young people in terms of providing right capital, up to RM50,000 in soft loans.

“They are quite relaxed in documentation and collateral but are still willing to come in,” he said.

Office furniture supplier and manufacturer Adam Wong, 38, of JD Harapan Sdn Bhd, said the congestion at the Sepanggar Port is the biggest cause of inflation for Sabah.

“It’s KK’s only port and can only hold two container vessels at a time. It has been this way for two decades as our population increases. Even Bintulu can hold five at one time.

“The weekly routes for foreign vessels are delayed or even skipped because of the congestion. This causes issues to traders.

“We have to pre-empt through increasing stockyards but will pass on the increased cost to the consumer.

“Its timely for the State Government to look into the matter as we do not have a minister for the specific issue,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sybil President Ar. James Wong said 130 participants in groups discussed topics like agriculture, tourism, the downstream manufacturing decline, infrastructure, energy and food security in line with the Government’s development goals.

“Now we have 130 capable business owners but we hope to build 1,000. We brainstorm each step and improve.

“My greatest takeaway from the workshop is the capability of Sabahans,” he said, adding that he is moved by what Sybil has accomplished in just three months.

“We have developed new industries, established partnerships cross-country and have had business exchanges. Imagine what we can achieve in three years if Sabah’s young people keep this up and continue to contribute.

“Sybil aims to connect the minds of entrepreneurs in Sabah. A study which put basketball players together measured an increase in individual performance of up to 30 per cent just by being put together in the same room,” he said.