Kota Kinabalu: A delegation from University College Sabah Foundation (UCSF) and Maritime Strategic Association of Malaysia (Mastra) met with Sabah’s Head of State Tun Juhar Mahiruddin at Istana Seri Kinabalu.
The group, led by Mastra Chairman First Admiral (Rtd) Datuk Dr Murad Omar, included UCSF Chairman Datuk Dr Mohd Yaakub Johari and other officials.
The meeting’s purpose was to introduce the collaboration between Mastra and UCSF’s Centre for Development Studies, and to discuss their joint study on Sabah Maritime Strategic Initiatives.
They emphasised Sabah’s reliance on the maritime sector for trade and economic development, highlighting untapped opportunities in this area.
The delegation referenced the Sabah Maritime Strategic Development Framework from 1997, which led to significant port infrastructure improvements funded by the Federal Government.
They also mentioned a recent roundtable discussion held on July 5, 2024, which focused on critical components of Sabah’s maritime industry, including education, shipbuilding, renewable energy, marine tourism, fisheries, and artificial intelligence.
The group stressed the continued potential of the maritime sector for Sabah’s sustainable economic growth and the need for well-planned, timely initiatives to capitalize on technological advances in this rapidly changing field.
